Effects of live, artificial and mixed feeds on the growth and energy budget of Penaeus vannamei

•The mixed diet can significantly improve the survival and growth performance of Penaeus vannamei.•The mixed diet can significantly increase the energy conversion rates of P. vannamei.•The proportion of growth energy of P. vannamei in live feed group was significantly higher than that in artificial feed group.•A mixed diet of live and artificial feed is more conducive to rapid growth and appropriate for culture of P. vannamei. Penaeus vannamei is one of the largest yield of shrimp aquaculture in the world, which has efficient feed conversion rate, fast growth rate and exhibits high tolerance to poor culture water conditions and with high market demand. However, bottlenecks in culture exist, such as environmental issues caused by culture intensification and quantities of artificial feeds increase, and disease outbreaks occur with increased frequency. We assessed effects of feeding P. vannamei for 35 days with live, artificial and mixed feeds on its feeding activity, growth and energy budget. Our results indicate that growth of mixed feed group to be significantly higher than that of live or artificial feed group (P < 0.05), which the SGRw, SGRl and SGRe of mixed feed group are 2.38 ± 0.15, 0.80 ± 0.13 and 2.43 ± 0.09 (%·d−1), respectively. Survival and growth performance of live feed group are higher than those of artificial feed group (P < 0.05). Feed consumption rate and energy conversion rate of live or mixed feed group are higher than those of artificial feed group (P < 0.05), which feed conversion efficiency of mixed feed group is higher than that of live or artificial feed group (P < 0.05). Diet has a significant effect on energy flow in P. vannamei (P < 0.05). The proportion of energy from consumed feed directed towards growth is the highest in live feed group and the lowest in artificial feed group. With the exception of respiratory energy, the proportion of energy consumed by growth, excretion, molting and feces in mixed feed group was intermediate level of that in the live or artificial feed group. Live feed has better promotion on the survival and growth of P. vannamei. Considering the ecological and economic benefits, the mixed feeds is favorable to the rapid growth of shrimps, which is suitable for the cultivation of this species.