Effect of different diets on growth and digestive enzyme activity in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) early post-larvae

Growth rate, soluble-protein content and digestive-enzyme activities were studied in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) early post-larvae under six feeding regimens, which included combinations of freshly hatched Artemia nauplii, an artificial diet and algae, Growth (0.11 mg DW day(-1)) and soluble-protein content (61.8 mug protein larvae(-1) at PL(10)) of post-larvae fed mixed diets were significantly higher (P < 0.05), An artificial diet used alone or co-fed with algae caused the lowest growth (0.03-0.05 mg DW day(-1)) and soluble-protein content (13.7-15.5 <mu>g protein larvae(-1) at PL(10)), Trypsin-like activity was higher (up to 10 times) in post-larvae fed Artemia nauplii and an artificial diet alone or plus algae. The artificial diet stimulated chymotrypsin activity, apparently in response to squid meal present in this diet. Amylase activity increased when post-larvae were fed the artificial diet. This was apparently related more to the origin of the starch than to the total carbohydrate level of the diet, No obvious relationship was found between enzyme activity and growth in any feed combination, Based on growth and soluble-protein content, we determined that partial substitution (50%) of Artemia nauplii by artificial diet and the use of algae co-fed beyond the first post-larval stage benefits growth and the nutritional state of L. vannamei post-larvae.