Food consumption of marine shrimp <i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i> in closed system with the use of probiotics

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the food consumption of marine shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in a closed culture system with application of probiotics. Four treatments were established with a water recirculation system: probiotic (Bacillus sp.) added in the water and feed (PWF); only in the water (PW); only in the feed (PF); and without the addition of probiotic (NP). Shrimps with mean weight of 3.48 ± 0.62 g were stocked (200 shrimp m^-2) in each of the twelve experimental units (50 L). Pelleted feed was offered in four daily meals at the rate of 7.5% of shrimp biomass. For seven consecutive days, the residual feed of these meals were collected after four hours, placed in pre-weighed filters and dried in an electrical oven at a temperature of 60 °C. The values of food consumption (g of feed per meal) were lower in treatments PWF (0.45 g) and PW (0.32 g), which differ significantly when compared with treatments PF (0.60 g) and NP (0.59 g). The probiotic contributed to reduce the food consumption when added in the water, without compromising the growth rate of L. vannamei.