Pigmentation and carotenoid content of shrimp fed with Haematococcus pluvialis and soy lecithin

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Haematococcus pluvialis (H. pluvialis) (carotenoid source) and H. pluvialis plus soy lecithin on development, carotenoid content, and pigmentation of shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). One hundred and eighty shrimps (7.8 g) were divided in six tanks (n = 30) and fed with control food, H. pluvialis, and H. pluvialis plus soy lecithin for 2 weeks. Carotenoids were extracted with acetone and quantified by UV–vis spectrophotometry, and astaxanthin was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Colour was analysed by colorimetry. Lecithin/H. pluvialis group presented higher survival rate (100%) when compared to control group (93.3%). Haematococcus pluvialis and lecithin/H. pluvialis groups presented higher red-like colour (a* 16.4 and 19.9) than control (a* 20.6). Lecithin/H. pluvialis group presented higher carotenoids content (8.2 mg kg−1 muscle, 26.8 mg kg−1 exoskeleton) and astaxanthin (8.5 mg kg−1 muscle, 23.3 mg kg−1 exoskeleton) than control (carotenoids: 4.2 mg kg−1 muscle, 12.3 mg kg−1 exoskeleton; astaxanthin: 3.2 mg kg−1 muscle, 8.1 mg kg−1 exoskeleton). Feeding with 60 ppm carotenoids (from H. pluvialis) during 2 weeks was sufficient for favouring red-like pigmentation in shrimp, and lecithin increased astaxanthin content only in exoskeleton.