Production performance and nutritional quality of the fairy shrimp Dendrocephalus brasiliensis Pesta, 1921 (Crustacea, Anostraca) cultured with fish effluent in recirculation system

The lack of information of the nutritional profile and technology in the rearing of Dendrocephalus brasiliensis in intensive systems of aquaculture limits its using in larval rearing. We investigated the effects of the stocking density in both biomass and cyst productions, as well as the centesimal composition and biochemical profile of D. brasiliensis. To evaluate the biomass production of fairy shrimps, larvae were distributed randomly into three densities of 25, 50 and 100 individuals L-1 in 5-L net tanks (NT). The D. brasiliensis were reared for 30 days using effluent from tilapia recirculation systems. The results showed that the different stocking densities affected both biomass and cyst productions as well as survival of D. brasiliensis. The highest biomass production (2.6 g L-1) was obtained in high density (HD) stock (100 ind L-1). The fairy shrimp reared in HD (20 females and 20 males L-1) produced more cysts (82.57 mg NT-1), with the highest amount reaching 4 mg of dry cysts L-1. Thus, for intensive production of D. brasiliensis, we suggest its rearing in HD (100 ind L-1) and 20 pairs L-1 or 4 mg of dry cysts L-1 at the same conditions used in this study. Nauplii and juveniles of D. brasiliensis had high concentrations of protein (605.0 +/- 3.0 g kg ms-1 for nauplii and 704.3 +/- 3.5 g kg ms -1 for juveniles) and lipids (181.0 +/- 3.0 g kg ms -1 for nauplii and 86.0 +/- 3.5 g kg ms -1 for juveniles), as well as high amounts of amino acids and highly unsaturated fatty acids (18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3). The nutritional profile of D. brasiliensis and its zootechnical characteristics make of it a species with great potential as a live food resource for species of economic interest in aquaculture.

Automated summary

This study investigated the effects of stocking density on biomass production and cyst production of Dendrocephalus brasiliensis, recommending rearing in high density (100 ind L-1) and producing 20 pairs L-1 or 4 mg of dry cysts L-1. The nutritional profile of D. brasiliensis, including high protein and lipid concentrations, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acids, suggests its great potential as a live food resource for economically important species in aquaculture.