Effect of storage temperature on the quality of diets for the prawn, Penaeus monodon Fabricius

Abstract

The effect of storage temperature was evaluated on the basis of growth response of prawns fed for 10 weeks with diets stored at 0°C, 10°C, 28°C-31°C (ambient temperatures) and 40°C for a period of 10 weeks. Prawns were stocked at 15 pieces per 60-1 oval thank supplied with water at 28°C and 32 ppt in a flow-trough aerated system.There were five replicate tanks per treatment. Lowest weight gain (20 g) was observed for prawns fed the diet stored at 40°C and significantly higher growth response was observed as the storage temperature decreased (30.2g at 28-31°C; 37.7g at 0°C and 10°C). Body size was significantly (P<0.05) affected by diet after 6 weeks of feeding and highly significantly (P<0.01) after 8 weeks of culture.Peroxide values for diets exposed for 10 weeks to 28°-31°C (2.9 meq/kg). The highest survival rate (76%) and feed conversion (8.9%) were observed for prawns fed diets stored at low temperatures (0° or 10°C). Severe necrosis of the hepatopancreatic cells was observed in P. monodon fed with diet stored at the high temperature.