POLYUNSATURATED FATTY-ACID PROFILES AS A COMPARATIVE TOOL IN ASSESSING MATURATION DIETS OF PENAEUS-VANNAMEI

The polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in the Maine bloodworm, Glycera dibranchiata, are compared to the PUFA in other live feed sources as well as commercial feeds to determine what other feed sources have fatty acid profiles most like those of the bloodworm. Bloodworms have been used successfully as a feed source to produce maturation in reared Penaeus vannamei. It has been suggested that certain PUFA in bloodworms may help trigger maturation. PUFA are comprised primarily of two families: omega-6 (n-6) and omega-3 (n-3). Analytical results indicate that oysters, squid, and certain marine worms have fatty acid profiles similar to that of the bloodworm. Commercial feeds have high absolute concentrations of n-3 fatty acids, but the ratios of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids are dissimilar to those of bloodworms. The balance between these two omega fatty acid families may be an important factor to consider when providing a maturation diet for P. vannamei. © 1990.