Effects of enriched Artemia with n–3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids on growth performance, stress resistance and fatty acid profile of Litopenaeus vannamei postlarvae

A 15-day study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Artemia metanauplii enriched with two commercial supplements (Easy DHA-Selco and S. presso) which contained high levels of n–3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n–3 LC-PUFA) on growth performance, stress resistance and fatty acid profile of Litopenaeus vannamei post larvae (PL). In this regard, PL were fed with three different types of Artemia including: (1) newly hatched Artemia franciscana nauplii as the control group; (2) Artemia metanauplii enriched with Easy DHA-Selco; and (3) Artemia metanauplii enriched with S. presso. Survival rates did not change among different groups. PL fed Artemia enriched with the S. presso and the Easy DHA-Selco showed the highest wet and dry weight, respectively (p<0.05). Moreover, PL fed Artemia enriched with the commercial emulsions had higher survival rate (~ 10 %) than treatments fed newly hatched Artemia (p<0.05).The concentration of n–3 PUFA especially DHA and also n-3 / n-6 PUFA ratios were higher in PL fed with Artemia enriched with the commercial emulsions than the control group. Feeding enriched Artemia with n–3 LC-PUFA is recommended to improve growth performance in larval stages of L. vannamei.