Pigmentation of Cultured Black Tiger Prawn by Feeding with a Spirulina-Supplemented Diet

Abstract

Black tiger prawn Penaeus monodon were fed with diets containing different carotenoid sources:β-carotene, Spirulina, Phaffia, and krill oil. A marked increase of carotenoid content in the carapace was observed when fed with Spirulina-supplemented diets. The best effect of Spirulina was obtained at 3% in diets. The analysis of carapace carotenoids in the Spirulina-fed prawns suggests that zeaxanthin, one of major carotenoids in Spirulina, has been rapidly converted to astaxanthin. In view of these findings, we propose that a practical strategy for pigmentation of cultured P. monodon is to feed it with a diet containing Spirulina at 3% for 1 month before harvest.