MEASUREMENT OF THE FEED CONSUMPTION OF NEPHROPS NORVEGICUS FEEDING ON DIFFERENT DIETS AND ITS EFFECT ON BODY NUTRIENT COMPOSITION AND DIGESTIVE GLAND HISTOLOGY

Abstract

The feed consumption of Nephrops norvegictes (Linnaeus, 1758) reared in captivity and fed either mussel or a pelleted diet was measured for ten weeks. Both groups of lobsters showed a similar feed consumption, which averaged 54.7 and 49.9 mg of dry weight day(-1) lobster(-1), respectively. Tail muscle and digestive gland nutrient composition was unaffected by the different type of diet, except muscle lipid contents. The pelleted diet resulted in increased moults, but the mussel diet was more effective with reference to survival. A similar digestive condition was also evidenced between the groups despite the bigger B-cells area in the digestive gland tubules of the pellet-fed lobsters. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the nutrition and feeding capabilities of N. norvegicus reared in captivity, which is critical for the development of suitable diets for its potential in aquaculture.