Mineral Requirements of Penaeus vannamei: A Preliminary Examination of the Dietary Essentiality for Thirteen Minerals

Diets containing a complete mineral premix or mineral premixes from which Ca, P, Na, CI, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn, Cu, I, Se, or Cr were individually deleted were fed to juvenile Penaeus vunnamei (mean initial weight 79.5 mg) over a 4‐week experimental period. Final mean percent weight gain ranged from 1,472 (Cu‐free mineral premix) to 1,991% (Na‐free mineral premix) with an average of 1,812% for all treatments. Survival during the first two week period and the second two week period was greater than 92% and 88%, respectively. There were no significant differences observed among treatments for growth and survival data. Upon termination of the growth trial, the hepatopancreas and carapace were dissected from the shrimp and evaluated for ash, Ca, P, Na, K, Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu content. Of the minerals analyzed, the individual deletion of Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn and Cu from the mineral supplement resulted in reduced tissue mineralization in P. vannamei whereas, the deletion of Ca and P from the mineral mix did not produce significant responses. Deletion of Se from the mineral premix resulted in a significant increase in the ash content of the carapace. Based on the information provided by this and other studies, further investigation of the dietary requirements of P. vannamei for Ca, P, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn, Cu and Se is recommended.