PIGMENTATION OF KURUMA PRAWN, PENAEUS-JAPONICUS BATE, BY VARIOUS PIGMENT SOURCES AND LEVELS AND FEEDING REGIMES

Color is one of the major factors which determines the price of live kuruma prawns, Penaeus japonicus Bate, in the Japanese market. This study was designed to determine the effects of various pigment sources, and levels and feeding regimes on the pigmentation of kuruma prawns. A 7 X 3 factorial design was used which included seven pigmented diets fed for three time durations with two replications. The seven pigmented diets contained astaxanthin at concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/100 g diet, beta-carotene at concentrations of 50, 1 00 and 200 mg/100 g diet, and algal (Dunaliella salina) meal at a concentration of 100 mg pigment/100 g diet. Prawns were fed each pigmented diet for 1, 2 or 3 months. During the other months, the prawns were fed a non-pigmented diet. The control group was fed a non-pigmented diet exclusively. Astaxanthin was found to be the most effective pigment. No difference in pigment concentration was found between prawns fed the beta-carotene and algal meal. Pigmentation by astaxanthin at 50 mg/100 g diet was poorer than at 100 and 200 mg/100 g diet. No significant difference in pigmentation was found among prawns fed the three levels of beta-carotene. There was no difference in pigmentation among prawns fed the pigmented diets for the three time periods. The best feeding strategy for pigmentation was to feed the prawns a diet containing astaxanthin at 100 mg/100 g for 1 month before harvest. Prawns fed the astaxanthin die, had a higher rate of survival than those fed the beta-carotene or algal meal diets. A positive correlation between survival rates and pigment concentration in prawn tissue indicated that pigment may play a role in improving the survival of prawns.