Concentration and Composition of Astaxanthin in Black Tiger Prawn <i>Penaeus monodon</i> Postlarvae Fed <i>Artemia</i> sp. Nauplii or Mauxia Shrimsp <i>Acetes intermedius</i>

Abstract

Abstract Minced Taiwan mauxia shrimp Acetes intermedius , an alternative to brine shrimp Artemia sp. nauplii, has long been used as a principal or supplemental feed in prawn hatcheries in Southeast Asia and India. In this study, black tiger prawn Penaeus monodon postlarvae were fed with frozen brine shrimp nauplii (diet B) or minced Taiwan mauxia shrimp (diet M) for 4 wk to compare their astaxanthin concentration and composition, survival, and growth. Diet B contained two and a half times more total carotenoid (TC) than diet M, with canthaxanthin as a major (79%) carotenoid, but without astaxanthin, a predominant carotenoid in crustaceans. Of its TC in diet M, 55% was β‐carotene and 17% astaxanthin. B‐prawn (postlarvae fed with diet B) had a similar growth rate as M‐prawn and twice the survival rate as M‐prawn. The concentrations of total astaxanthin (TA), free astaxanthin (FA), astaxanthin monoester (MA), and astaxanthin di‐ester (DA) in B‐prawn were all higher than those in M‐prawn. Except for FA, no reduction of TA, MA, or DA concentration during the feeding interval was found in B‐prawn. However, concentrations of TA, FA, MA, and DA in M‐prawn all decreased. TC content of the experimental diets had a greater influence on resulting prawn astaxanthin concentration and composition than carotenoid compositions of the diets.