The effects of dietary supplement of Ulva fasciata, fermented soybean and probiotics on the growth of Apostichopus japonicus

Abstract

Several feeding experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplement of seaweed, fermented soybean and probiotics on the growth of juvenile sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus. After comparing the growth performance of sea cucumbers fed with Ulva fasciata, Gracilaria tenuistipitata and Laminaria japonica for 8 weeks, U. fasciata was selected as a major protein source. Four partial replacements of U. fasciata in feeds were then prepared by the inclusion of white fish meal, soybean meal, mixture of fish and soybean meal and fermented soybean (BioMax(R)), respectively. The growth performance over a period of 8 weeks revealed that sea cucumbers fed with fermented soybean supplemental diet had significantly better weight gain (129.60 +/- 0.14%), SGR (1.48 +/- 0.01%) and FCR (2.93 +/- 0.01) compared with individuals fed with other diets (p < .05). Moreover, the relative higher attractiveness of fermented soybean supplemental diet was shown in food choice experiments (pairwise comparison). Daily addition of 10(9) CFU of probiotics mixture (Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus) in diet for 8 weeks could be suitable for the growth of sea cucumbers while sand was used as a substrate in tank bottom. The present study provided useful information for tank-based aquaculture of Apostichopus japonicus.