INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENT DIETS ON LENGTH AND BIOMASS PRODUCTION OF BRINE SHRIMP ARTEMIA FRANCISCANA (KELLOG, 1906)

Abstract

Total length and biomass production of the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana were studied fed on soybean and wheat micropulverized meals (applied alone or mixed at different proportions), live microalgae (Tetraselmis suecica and Chaetoceros calcitrans), and dried Spirulina as diets. Eight diets were tested in triplicates during 10 days. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed from day 1 onwards. The mixed meal-based diets showed better production results. At day 1, the Artemia nauplii fed on the 70% wheat meal/ 30% soya meal diet were 30% longer compared to the animals from the C. calcitrans group. At day 10, the organisms fed with the 100% soya meal diet were 68% longer than those fed on the C. calcitrans diet. The final biomass production (wet and dry weight) for the mixed meal diet groups was higher than that obtained for the algal treatments, although survival rate was higher for the C. calcitrans diet. A soya-wheat meal diet is recommended for brine shrimp biomass production.