Dietary astaxanthin supplementation for hatchery-cultured red king crab,Paralithodes camtschaticus, juveniles

Abstract

We conducted large-scale production trials in Seward, Alaska, USA to investigate effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation on survival, growth and shell colouration of recently settled juvenile (C1-C4) red king crabs (Paralithodes camtschaticus). We supplemented a control diet of commercial crustacean feeds with astaxanthin, and fed these diets to juvenile king crabs at densities of 2000 and 4000 crabs m À2 for 56 days. We assessed survival and growth by counting crabs and individually measuring carapace width and weighing crabs at the start and end of the experiment, and quantified crab colour (hue, saturation, brightness) in digital photographs. Diets containing astaxanthin had higher survival, suggesting that astaxanthin may provide nutritional or immune system benefits. Crabs had lower hue, higher saturation and lower brightness values when fed diets containing astaxanthin, suggesting that red king crab colouration is plastic and responds to diet. Astaxanthin is likely an important dietary component for hatchery or laboratory reared red king crab juveniles, and should be considered for aquaculture and other rearing of this and possibly other crustacean species.

Effects of dietary supplementation ofHaematococcus pluvialispowder on gonadal development, coloration and antioxidant capacity of adult male Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis)

“…In the present study, the redness ( a* value) of carapace increased significantly with increasing dietary H. pluvialis powder, which was in agreement with Daly et al. () in red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus . These results indicated that male E. sinensis could well utilize the carotenoids from dietary H. pluvialis powder.…”

“…Therefore, different dietary astaxanthin levels had no significant effects on the coloration of hepatopancreas for some crustacean species (Daly et al. ; Wade et al. ).…”

“…). In recent years, several studies have shown dietary carotenoids could improve body colour (Daly, Swingle & Eckert ; Wade et al. ) and antioxidation capacity of crustaceans (Supamattaya et al.…”

Astaxanthin as feed supplement in aquatic animals

“…In red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus , the survival over 56 days was greatly improved when its diets were enriched with 380 mgastaxanthin kg −1 feed (Daly et al . ). Moreover, Kumar et al .…”

“…; Tlusty & Hyland ) and red king crab P. camtschaticus (Daly et al . ) for colour improvement through the abundance of epithelial astaxanthin within the exoskeleton and hypodermal tissue. Several crustacean species were observed to eventually lose their natural coloration or not develop pigmentation and are often pale blue in colour instead of bluish‐green or brown if not provided with adequate dietary carotenoid intake (Dall ; Barclay et al .…”