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Email the author (Login required) Use of mealworm Eisenia fetida cultivated in vegetal and animal substrate as a dietary supplement for the whiteleg shrimp Penaeus vannamei
Submited: 2024-12-17 12:04:02 | Published: 2026-01-16 10:57:33
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue1-fulltext-3377
Abstract
Mealworm (MW) from the red wriggler, Eisenia fetida, has been used as a dietary substitute or complement in aquaculture diets. However, the substrate in which it is cultivated varies its proximate composition. This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of MW produced in two substrates-vegetal culture (VC) and animal culture (AC)-in mixed diets for juvenile Penaeus vannamei. A 2×3 factorial experimental design was used, consisting of two substrates (VC and AC) and three inclusion levels (5, 10, and 20%), yielding six diets, each with three replicates. Shrimp (2.29 ± 0.13 g) were cultured for 75 days in a recirculating system and were fed twice daily. Growth performance, survival, and digestive enzyme activity were evaluated. Shrimp fed with 10% VC showed a higher final weight (8.07 ± 0.39 g) and weight gain (5.66 ± 0.45 g) (P < 0.05) at the end of the experiment. The final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate were higher in organisms fed with VC, regardless of the inclusion level. Survival was similar (˃90%) across all treatments (P ˃ 0.05). Except for lysine, the levels of essential and nonessential amino acids increased with the MW substitution level produced using both substrates. Both 10% VC and 10% AC groups showed the highest digestive protease activity (39.83 ± 3.0 and 50.87 ± 4.4 U mg protein-1 in VC and AC, respectively). In contrast, the highest chymotrypsin activity was observed in the 5% AC group (6.08 ± 0.43 U mg chymotrypsin-1). The results indicate that incorporating MW from E. fetida, produced on either substrate, into a mixed diet alters shrimp growth and enzymatic activity without affecting survival. However, future studies evaluating MW as an ingredient in formulated shrimp feeds should proceed with caution, particularly regarding the characteristics of the worm-culture substrate.
