Effect of Chitosan Supplementation in Commercial Feed For Specific Growth Rate and Protein Retention of Litopenaeus vannamei

Litopenaeus vannamei is a leading commodity whose economic value. Targets of vannamei's production increasing every year. One of important factor in the success of shrimp farming is feed. Research about feed fish directed to the creation of feed fish whose economical and safe for the environment, therefore is required an efforts to provide alternative feed through feed supplement. One of the material that can be supplemented in feed is chitosan. Chitosan can increase the specific growth rate and protein retention of vannamei. This study aims to determine the effect of chitosan supplementation in commercial feed for specific growth rate and protein retention of Litopenaeus vannamei. The research method used was completely randomized design (RAL) and performed with five treatments chitosan supplementation (0%, 1%, 2%, 3% dan 4%) experimental animal used was ten shrimps as five replication in each treatment. The main parameters were observed are specific growth rate and protein retention of vaname. Supporting parameters were observed is water quality. The results showed that chitosan supplementation in commercial feed for 30 days of maintenance give an effect on the specific growth rate and protein retention of vaname. The highest specific growth rate was obtained in treatment with 4% chitosan supplementation that not significantly different with treatment 3% chitosan supplementation. Protein retention was incresed in treatment with 4% chitosan supplementation that not significantly different with treatment 3% chitosan supplementation.