Effect of dietary
cholesterol on growth and survival of juvenile redclaw crayfish Cherax
quadricarinatus under laboratory conditions
P.V. Hernández, M.A. Olvera-Novoa, D.B. Rouse-2004
Aquaculture, 236(1-4): 405-411
Abstract:
The effect of dietary cholesterol level on growth and
survival of juvenile redclaw crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus was
evaluated over a 10-week culture period. Five isoenergetic (430 kcal/100 g)
and isonitrogenous (30% protein) diets, supplemented with 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%,
0.75% and 1.00% cholesterol were evaluated. Juvenile redclaw crayfish (0.06±0.02
g) were individually housed in plastic cages in 15-l, low case tanks in a
climate-controlled laboratory, using a semiclosed recirculation system.
Water temperature was maintained at 28±0.5 °C. Redclaw crayfish fed with
0.50% cholesterol diet had significantly higher weight gain than those from
the other four treatments. Redclaw crayfish fed with diets without
cholesterol supplementation had the lowest growth. Survival ranged from 90%
to 100% and was not significantly different among treatments. The
recommended dietary cholesterol level for optimum growth under these
environmental conditions was 0.50%.