• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2006

Effect of the various sources of dietary additives on growth, body composition and shell color of abalone Haliotis discus hannai was investigated for 16 weeks. Forty juvenile abalone averaging 13.5 g were randomly stocked into 21 of 50 L plastic rectangular containers each. Eight kinds of additives were prepared for this study: four commercially available microalgae [Haeatococcus (Hae), Isochrysis galbana (Iso), Shizochytrium (Sch) and Spirulina (Spi)], three crustacean meals [krill meal (KM), shrimp head meal (Shm) and red crab meal (Rcm)], and green tea by-product (Gre). In addition, dry sea tangle (Dst), Laminaria japonica, as a control, was prepared. Casein, dextrin and a mixture corn oil and fish oil was protein, carbohydrate and lipid sources, respectively, in the experimental diets. The 2% each additive was included into the experimental diets. The experimental diets were fed to abalone once a day at the ratio of $1.5{\sim}2.0%$ total biomass of abalone with a little leftover throughout the 16-week feeding trial. Survival of abalone was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the experimental diets. However, weight gain of abalone fed the all experimental diets containing the various sources of additives was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the Dst diet. Weight gain of abalone fed the Spi diet was highest and Shi, KM and Iso diets in order. Shell length and the ratio of soft body weight to body weight of abalone was not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the experimental diets. However, shell width of abalone fed the all experimental diets containing the various sources of additives was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of abalone fed the Dst diet. The shell color of abalone fed the Spi diet was improved the most distinctively and similar to that of natural abalone. Therefore, it can be concluded that the experimental diets with the various sources of additives (microalgae and crustacean meals) was effective to improve growth of abalone and dietary inclusion of Spirulina was most effective to improve shell color of abalone.