EFFECTS OF DIETARY FIBER ON GROWTH, ASSIMILATION AND CELLULASE ACTIVITY OF THE PRAWN (<i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i>)¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cellulose fiber comprising up to 30% of an isonitrogenous series of diets (0, 5, 15 and 30% fiber concentration) did not suppress growth of prawn having average initial weights of 0.08 ± 0.002 g over a 12‐week period. In addition, dietary fiber concentrations of 5 and 20% were found to stimulate growth over an 8‐week period among prawn having initial average weights of 1.48 ± 0.054 g, as opposed to 0% fiber concentration, which had no significant effect on growth. Cellulase activity measured in hepatopancreas tissues by viscometric techniques was shown to be positive with a six‐fold increase in activity occurring in adult prawn (11 ± 1.16 g) when compared to smaller prawn (1 ± 0.06 g). However, activity in both sizes of prawn was not found to be proportional to increases in dietary fiber concentrations. Total organic carbon assimilation decreased while nitrogen assimilation efficiency increased in response to increasing dietary fiber concentration. Results from the present study indicated that use of dietary fiber may make a significant contribution to commercial formulations of cost‐effective crustacean diets.