Effects of dietary b - 1,3 - glucan on the growth, survival, physiological and an immune response of marron, Cherax tenuimanus (smith, 1912)

Six isonitrogenous and isocalorific diets supplemented with five different levels of beta -1,3 - glucan (0.08%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.8%) were formulated and tested for marron (Cherax tenuimanus) growth, survival, organosomatic indices, osmoregulatory capacity and immunological parameters (total and differential haemocyte counts, haemolymph clotting time and bacteraemia). The sixth diet without any beta - 1,3 - glucan was used as a control. Each diet was provided to 18 marron (0.47 +/- 0.02 g initial weight) replicated 3 times in individual 250 L fiberglass cylindrical tanks. Each tank was provided with a biological filtration recirculating water system. After 84 days of culture, the survival and yield were higher in the marron fed 0.1% beta glucan supplemented diet. The different levels of beta glucan did not alter any of the physiological parameters of marron. However, dietary supplementation with beta glucan resulted in significantly higher (P