Influence of peptide rate of the diet on survival, growth and digestive enzyme activities of juvenile cuttlefish <i>Sepia officinalis</i>

Juvenile cuttlefish hatched in the laboratory were reared for 40 days with different enriched diets (LBBMA4 or LBBMA25, which are viscera silages). Survival was 100% in every group. Cuttlefish fed with enriched diet had better growth and conversion rate. These results indicate that autolysed proteins from enrichment can be used in juvenile cephalopod nutrition. Differences observed in juvenile cuttlefish fed with non-enriched food and cuttlefish receiving enriched food are due for a large part to the protein and peptides contained in the enrichments. In fact, LBBMA4 contains less peptides than LBBMA25, whereas the content in proteins (> 20kDa) was similar. Low molecular weight peptides present in enriched shrimps are also responsible for the remaining specific activity of proteolytic enzymes in the juvenile cuttlefish fed with enriched shrimp. Moreover, high concentration of carbohydrates in enriched shrimps improved a decrease of amylase specific activity. Specific activity of lipases was not modified by diet.