Zootechnical evaluation of Penaeus vannamei larvae fed endemic microalgae and a probiotic from the Gulf of California

Three marine microalgae strains (Schizochytrium sp., Navicula sp., and Grammatophora sp.) and a mix of three probiotic bacteria (Lactobacillus spp.) were evaluated to feed white-shrimp larvae (Penaeus vannamei). These species were cultured outdoors without temperature or light control. Chaetoceros muelleri was cultured with standard techniques and used as control. Penaeus vanammei larvae were cultured at densities of 175 nauplii L-1 in 70 L experimental units. Microalgae concentration was maintained between 70,000 and 125,000 cells mL(-1) and probiotic at 114 x 103 UFC mL(-1). Shrimp larvae were cultured in nauplius stage V and maintained up to Mysis I. The bromatological composition and its performance in larvae were assessed at the end of the experiment. The best survivals were observed in trials with the control Chaetoceros muelleri (61.6 %), the mixture of Grammatophora sp. and Schizochytrium sp. plus probiotics (58.3 %) and the mixture of Grammatophora sp. and Schizochytrium sp. (55.8 %). A mortality close to 100 % was observed with Navicula sp. monoalgal fed. These results suggest that Grammatophora sp. + Schizochytrium sp. cultured outdoors can be used to feed shrimp larvae.