Journal of Aquaculture Research & Development

Abstract

Total and Partial Substitution of Dietary Fish Oil with Palm Oil to Juvenile Crayfish, Procambarus Llamasi

Claudia Carmona-Osalde *,Miguel Rodr

A 12-week feeding study was carried out to establish the effect of partial or total substitution of fish oil by plant oil in experimental fed diets in crayfish juveniles (Procambarus llamasi). Three isonitrogenous (30% crude protein) and isoenergetic (15.1 kJ/g) practical diets were formulated with 100% fish oil (FO), 100% plant oil (PO), and 50% FO-50% PO. The crayfish were raised on plastic tanks without water exchange, constant aeration, PVC shelters, with an average water temperature of 26 ± 1°C. Uneaten food and fecal residues were siphoned out from the tank bottom each morning. Crayfish total body weight (BW) and total length (TL) was measured every two weeks. Results showed that the use of plant oil did not significantly modified (p>0.05) growth performance, survival or maturity of experimental organisms. All diets were offered to apparent satiation twice a day. Fed was consumed showing good results in all performance growth parameters and maturity index. In conclusion the present study clearly supported the possibility of total or partial substitution of fish oil by plant oil for crayfish. Despite the absence of fish oil as attractant in the diet with 100% PO, its acceptance was as good as the one containing it. P. llamasi demonstrated the feasibility of using a vegetable oil as lipidic energy source, which allows lowering costs in the use of fish oil about 66%.