Work

Familiarisation and amino acid supplementation differentially affect feeding responses in Penaeus vannamei shrimp

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Feeding attractants are widely used in aquaculture to enhance feed intake and support growth, but their evaluation requires robust and standardised testing protocols. Prior familiarisation involves repeated exposure to the testing tank to reduce novelty-induced stress and redirect animal attention toward tested feed. This study examined whether prior familiarisation influences stress responses and feeding behaviour of juvenile Pacific white shrimp Penaeus vannamei (7.88 ± 0.98 cm), and assessed its relevance for evaluating the attractiveness and palatability of a mix of free amino acids (MFAA). In Experiment 1, we assessed familiarisation under moderately challenging conditions, using shrimp’s usual daily feed. Shrimp were either familiarised (1 h/day for three days) or not to the testing tank, and tested with or without feed. Familiarisation had no effect on stress or feeding behaviour, whereas feed presence increased tail flips and reduced thigmotaxis. In Experiment 2, we assessed familiarisation under more challenging conditions – representative of typical feed evaluation assays – where shrimp are repeatedly exposed to novel feeds. Familiarised and non-familiarised shrimp were successively exposed to four feed treatments (No Feed, uncoated Blank Diet, Blank Diet coated with 0.5 or 1% of MFAA). Familiarisation increased feed consumption but did not improve shrimp’s ability to discriminate feeds, calling into question the relevance of this time- and resource-intensive procedure in feeding tests. Shrimp consumed more MFAA-coated feed regardless of familiarisation, confirming its palatability. Overall, these results suggest that the effects of familiarisation depend on the testing context and may be more beneficial when shrimp encounter novel feeds. Given the economic importance of P. vannamei , refining testing procedures is essential to strengthen the assessment of feed additives in aquaculture.

Source: Aquaculture Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.aqrep.2026.103819

Authors: Charline Pichon, Pierrick Kersante, Guillaume Le Reste, Christelle Jozet-Alves, Anne-Sophie Darmaillacq