Growth and performance of Penaeus semisulcatus (de Haan) fed with two commercial shrimp feeds

Two feeding trials were conducted in two stages to compare growth and performance, grow-out (1–9 g b.w.) and fattening (13–19 g b.w.), of Penaeus semisulcatus. Shrimps were fed with two commercial feeds: P. monodon feed and P. japonicus feed. Both experiments were conducted using an indoor flow-through tank culture system. The results reveal that the growth performance of shrimp fed with P. japonicus feeds (0.91 g shrimp−1 week−1) for the grow-out stage was significantly better than shrimp fed with P. monodon feeds (0.63 g shrimp−1 week−1). The growth performance of shrimp fed with P. monodon feed (0.56 g shrimp−1 week−1) for the fattening stage was significantly better than shrimp fed with P. japonicus feed (0.42 g shrimp−1 week−1). The feed conversion ratios of both diets for the two sizes did not differ significantly. Thus, it is recommended that P. japonicus feeds be fed to P. semisulcatus during the grow-out stage. During the fattening stage, the better growth performance of the shrimp fed with P. monodon feed makes it a better feed. However, colour and overall acceptability of shrimp fed with P. japonicus feed were generally higher than those fed with P. monodon feed.