Color Alteration and Growth Performance of Spiny Lobster (Panulirus homarus) Juveniles Fed with Different Spirulina Concentration in Formulated Diet

Abstract

Spiny lobster Panulirus homarus is susceptible to the color alteration in captivity, and it might affect on the market acceptance by the customers. On the other hand, Spirulina is known as carotenoids source that is required for pigmentation, growth performance and survival rate for spiny lobster. This study addressed the effect of Spirulina inclusion in the diet of juveniles P. homarus to minimize color alteration and improve growth performance. This study was performed in Aquaculture Laboratory of the Research and Development Division for Marine Bio Industry – Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), North Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. There were three replicates of three formulated feeds (0%, 4% and 8% Spirulina inclusion) and one replicate of natural feed (minced trash fish, TF). Juveniles were individually weighed and photographed to determine growth performance and color alteration in 6 body parts on carapace and abdomen using HSV (hue, saturation, value) color quantification method. After 97 days rearing period, compared to the initial color, changing body color were detected in all body parts of P. homarus and made them look brighter. Moreover, the inclusion of Spirulina in the formulated diet did not affect on specific growth rate and weight gain of spiny lobster. However, the survival rate of spiny lobster in formulated diets were better than trash fish diet. In conclusion, although the inclusion of Spirulina in the formulated diet did not enhance either in pigmentation level or growth performance of spiny lobster, utilization of formulated diet in spiny lobster culture are potential to prevent alteration of body color and also the mortality of P. homarus during the rearing period.