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Using cornstarch in microparticulate diets for larvicultured tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus)

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Abstract

Aquaculture in Mexico has been developed by the cultivation of commercial species. In Tabasco, the cultivation of native species is mainly limited by the lack of nutrition studies to support its crop profitability. Among these species is the tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus), which has great potential for cultivation. However, the nutritional value of carbohydrates in diets for this species which contribute to improved growth and survival, have not been evalulated,. Thus, in the present investigation, isoprotein and isolipid diets have been designed based on the substitution of cellulose by corn starch (D1: 0 % starch–15 % cellulose, D2: 7.5 % starch–7.5 % cellulose and D3: 15 % starch–0 % cellulose) and compared with a commercial trout diet (45 % protein and 16 % lipids). A total of 1800 larvae (0.008 ± 0.002 g and 10.5 ± LT 0.126 mm) were used, distributed in a recirculation system in order to evaluate growth and survival for 30 days. The results show higher growth and survival of 97 % of larvae fed the D3 diet, while cannibalism in the species was mitigated. Major digestive enzyme activities occurred (acid protease, alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, carboxypeptidase A, lipase, α-glucosidase and amylase) for larvae fed D3. It is concluded that the contribution of corn starch (15 %) replacing cellulose in the diet improves growth and survival of this species.

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Acknowledgments

The author is grateful to the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory of the Academic Division of Biological Sciences, University Juarez Autonomous of Tabasco, for technical support in conducting this experiment, and the National Counsel of Science and Technology (CONACYT) for the scholarship provided in conducting this research.

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  1. DACBIOL Laboratorio de Acuicultura, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Villahermosa-Cárdenas km 0.5, C.P. 86150, Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico

    C. A. Frías-Quintana, J. Domínguez-Lorenzo, C. A. Álvarez-González & R. Martínez-García

  2. CIBNOR, Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, C.P. 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico

    D. Tovar-Ramírez

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  1. C. A. Frías-Quintana
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  2. J. Domínguez-Lorenzo
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Correspondence to C. A. Frías-Quintana.

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Frías-Quintana, C.A., Domínguez-Lorenzo, J., Álvarez-González, C.A. et al. Using cornstarch in microparticulate diets for larvicultured tropical gar (Atractosteus tropicus). Fish Physiol Biochem 42, 517–528 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-015-0156-4

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