Efficacy of compounded feeds prepared from fermented mantis shrimp on growth performance of Peneaus indicus post larvae

Ten compounded feeds incorporating 20-100% of mantis shrimp (Oratosquilla nepa), fermented using Bacilles licheniformis and Beauveria sp. respectively and containing 32 to 49 % crude protein were fed to post larvae of Penaeus indicus ( initial average weight 0.19 ± 0.06g ) for a period of 45 dayr. . A significant ( P< 0.05) increase in body weight was recorded in all the B . Ucheniformis treatment groups as compared to control post larvae . The group of post larvae maintained on the diet with 80 % incorporation of mantis shrimp accorded the best growth in terms of average body weight (563.16 %). The FCR for these feeds ranged from 1.56 to 2.08 as compared to a FCR of 5.0 on the control feed, Survived in all the treatments was in the range of 86 to 98% and not significantly different from the control. Feeds containing 20 to 100% mantis shrimp fermented using Beauveria sp. elicited a poor growth response as compared to feeds prepared from mantis shrimp fermented using B. Ucheniformis. At the 60 % incorporation however, a slightly better response was obtained wherein a 316% increase was observed in comparison to 213% in case of control animals. The feed conversion ratio and survival rates also did not show any significant (P > 0.05) variation in comparison to the control group. Overall growth performance and carcass yields show the superiority of fermented mantis shrimp and prove its efficacy as a feed ingredient in shrimp feeds