ROLE OF SALINITY ON FOOD CONVERSION EFFICIENCY AND GROWTH IN JUVENILEPENAEID SHRIMP METAPENAEUS-DOBSONI (CRUSTACEA ARTHROPODA)/

Growth parameters of juvenile Metapenaeus dobsoni, fed with fresh squi d meat were estimated in 5, 15, 25 and 35 ppt salinities for 4 weeks. Although no significant differences were noticed in food ingestion rat es, higher body weight (68.9% over initial weight) was recorded in 5 p pt salinity. Moulting frequency and intermoult period did not vary wit h variation in salinity. However, gross growth efficiency (K1=76.1%) a nd net growth efficiency (K2=82.5%) values were high and food conversi on ratio (FCR=1.31) was low in 5 ppt salinity suggesting that this is the ideal medium for growth of juveniles of this species.