EFFECT OF DIETARY CHICORY ADDITIVE IN WHITELEG SHRIMP, Litopenaeus vannamei UNDER CAPTIVE CONDITIONS

Shrimp aquaculture is being an important culture practice and about equal to agriculture in Southern Coastal India. In shrimp forms, feed quality and management is playing a crucial role for the successful aquaculture. The prebiotic effects of dietary chicory additive on growth performance, survival rate, FCR and gut micro floral diversity in Litopenaeus vannamei was observed in captive conditions. Chicory powder was mixed with feed at the rate of 2.5 g kg-1 feed. The shrimp culture was performed in triplicate for 75days. Feed supplemented with chicory showed a significant growth and FCR in experimental shrimp but the survival rate was not significantly varies between control and experimental group. The gut micro flora such as Lactobacillus sp load was increased (2.58x107 to 7.5x109) in experimental shrimp and the Vibrio sp. population was reduced (1.2x10-7 to 3.8x10-9) considerably due course of the culture period. Whereas in control group, the Vibrio sp population was remains more (2.75x10-7 to 4.5x10-9). Further research is needed to investigate the active principles of chicory and its potential effect on L. vannamei.