THE NEMATODE PANAGRELLUS-REDIVIVUS AS AN ALTERNATIVE LIVE FEED FOR LARVAL PENAEUS-INDICUS

The free-living nematode Panagrellus redivivus was used as a feed to r eplace microalgae during the protozoeal (PZ) stage of Penaeus indicus and Artemia nauplii during the mysis and early postlarval (PL) stages. The nematodes promoted higher survival and similar growth and develop ment when fed as an Artemia replacement. Adequate feeding density of t he nematodes was 30/ml during PZ stages and 60/ml during subsequent st ages to metamorphosis. Larvae fed nematodes from the first feeding sta ge to PL displayed comparable survival (p < 0.05) but lower growth and slower development than those fed algae plus Artemia (p < 0.05). Prov ision of algae as a co-feed with the nematodes for 24 hours significan tly improved the survival and growth during larval development (p < 0. 05). Larvae fed nematodes and algae from PZ1 to PZ2 had significantly higher trypsin activity than those fed nematodes alone (p < 0.05). It is concluded that algal cofeed significantly induces endogenous enzyme s in larvae, enhancing digestion of the nematodes.