The food and feeding habits of the white Indian prawn, Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) Indicus H. Milne Edwards, 1837

Abstract

There is disagreement within the literature as to whether Penaeus indicus feeds selectively. Few studies deal with the dietary importance of the various items that this prawn ingests. A comprehensive study of the potential food items was made then electivity indices and indices of relative importance were estimated. The indices indicate that P. indicus become more carnivorous as they grow and that members of the family Nereidae (Polychaeta) and Mesopodopsis orientalis (Crustacea: Mysidacea) were selected. In terms of ingested volume and frequency of occurrence, detritus was the most important food item. Examination of faecal pellets indicated that diatom frustules, long strands of Oscillatoria spp., woody plant tissue and harpacticold copepod exoskeletons were difficult to digest. Plant matter and micro-crustaceans may therefore be of limited nutritional value to P. indicus.