Higher proteolytic activity found in postlarvae fed on an artificial diet may be
correlated with the protein composition of MCD. Van Wormhoudt et al. (1986) stated
that squid meal increased protease activity in Marsopenaeus japonicus juveniles when it
is incorporated in the diet along with other protein sources. Squid meal also stimulated
chymotrypsin activity in L. vannamei larvae (Le Moullac and VanWormhoudt, 1994; Le
Moullac et al., 1996). Squid meal, as a component of MCD, could have increased
general protease activity when postlarvae fed on MCD alone. Several authors have
proposed that higher protease activity found in postlarvae fed on artificial diet may be
caused by an adjustment mechanism to low availability of dietary protein or by the
relative poor digestibility of the diet