The Optimization of Dietary Protein Level and Carbon Sources on Biofloc Nutritive Values, Bacterial Abundance, and Growth Performances of Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Juveniles

Abstract

A biofloc technology-based 75-day indoor growth trial in an 80 L glass aquaria was conducted to evaluate the effects of two different carbon sources (sugarcane bagasse, SB, and wheat flour, WF) on the biofloc composition, bacterial abundance, and growth of whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) juveniles (0.23 ± 0.04 g). Three different levels of dietary protein content (250, 300, and 350 g protein kg−1 diet) and two carbon sources (SB and WF) were applied (SB250, WF250, SB300, WF300, SB350, and WF350, respectively), comparing to a controlled diet without biofloc and fed on a 450 g protein kg−1 diet (C450). With the addition of SB and WF, water quality was in the ideal recommended ranges for L. vannamei culture. At the end of the experiment, the biofloc volume increased with increasing dietary protein levels. The nutritional value of biofloc in different treatments was influenced by dietary protein and added SB and WF. Increasing dietary protein significantly increased the protein and lipid contents of the produced biofloc. The use of WF as a carbon source significantly increased lipids and nitrogen-free extract in the biofloc. The total heterotrophic bacterial (THB) count was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in WF300 and WF350 than in the other treatments. The mean effect of the protein levels and carbon source was significantly reported, whereas the highest significant THB count was recorded with 300 dietary protein and using WF as a carbon source. The growth performances of L. vannamei fed with biofloc treatments were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the C450 group. The highest final weight and weight gain were recorded in SB350 treatment. The feed conversion ratio was not affected by reducing dietary protein levels; meanwhile, the protein efficiency ratio increased significantly in biofloc treatments than in the control. Overall, the results demonstrate that, compared to the control treatment of 450 dietary protein, the biofloc treatments using WF as a carbon source could compensate for the reduction in the dietary protein levels in the diet of L. vannamei and maintain higher zootechnical performance.

Carbon sources improve water quality, microbial community, immune‐related and antioxidant genes expression and survival of challenged Litopenaeus vannamei Postlarvae in biofloc system

“…The temperature, salinity and pH were all consistent with no noticeable fluctuations and were maintained at a sufficient level during the 3‐month experimental period. The same values for L. vannamei culturing were achieved by Roy et al (2010), Naik and Reddy (2020), Mansour et al (2022) and Sharawy et al (2022). The biofloc treatments (SCB, RB and RS) had a lower pH than the control treatment, which was likely due to the higher carbon dioxide concentration in the biofloc treatment water from the respiration of heterotrophic organisms (Xu et al, 2016).…”

Impact of Dietary Administration of Seaweed Polysaccharide on Growth, Microbial Abundance, and Growth and Immune-Related Genes Expression of The Pacific Whiteleg Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)

“…The Pacific Whiteleg shrimp ( Litopenaeus vannamei ) is most frequently grown worldwide, achieving more than 70% of all worldwide shrimp cultivation [ 7 , 8 ]. To sustain the shrimp industry worldwide, many issues must be resolved, such as poor water quality, low survivability, and diet industry improvement [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Moreover, climate change and the negative impact of environmental pollution are significant problems restricting the sustainability of aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic ecosystems, and aquatic animals so far [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].…”

Effects of Substituting the Two-Spotted Cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) Meal for Fish Meal on Growth Performances and Digestibility of Striped Snakehead (Channa striata) Juveniles

“…Aquafeeds, in general, have considerably relied on fish meal (FM), which is an optimal protein source to ensure fast growth and good health of farmed fish, especially in carnivorous species [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Nevertheless, the reduction in fish landing and continuously increasing demand from the aquaculture sector has made fish meal prices rise over the years [ 14 , 15 ]. The rising cost, added to the uncertain availability of FM supplies, forced nutritionists and feed manufacturers to find inexpensive, abundant, and readily available alternative protein sources as a substitution [ 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”