The Effect of Astaxanthine Pigment on Growth and Survival Rate in Post Larvae Banana Shrimp ( Fenneropenaeus merguiensis )

The aim of this work was to effect of astaxanthin pigment on growth (weight again, Specific growth rate and final body weight) , survival and pigment accumulation of postlarval banana shrimp. This research has been done in Sontderaf Jask in summer 2012 . In this experimental 9days postlarval with mean initial weight 4.5±0.8 were fed diets containing various levels (0, 50, 100 and 200mg/kg diet) of astaxanthin pigment for 30 days. Shrimp fed diets containing 50, 100 and 200 mg astaxanthin/kg, , growth was not significantly different than the control group (p>0.05). However, survival in shrimp fed diets containing 50, 100 and 200 mg astaxanthin pigment/kg to be significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). The pigment accumulation rate was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The analysis of pigment accumulation in the body postlarval shows that diet with astaxanthin pigment increased survival rate of postlarval. Due to nutritional properties of astaxanthin pigment and the positive effect on survival rate, the feeding postlarval banana shrimp with the diet containing at least 100 mg astaxanthin/kg is recommended.