A method for Rearing Perch, Perca fluviatilis, Larvae Using Paramecium caudatum, Followed by Wild Zooplankton and Formulated Dry Feed in Combination With Adequate Tank Systems

Abstract

The present study investigates methods for larviculture and fingerling production in the European perch, Perca fluviatilis. Perch larvae in the stage of first feeding were sensitive to many manipulations necessary in fish culture. Lowering and increasing the tank water level as required for cleaning and water renewal, water flow and aeration led to disturbed buoyancy or mortality in a distinct percentage of larvae. Paramecium caudatum, wild zooplankton containing > 70% copeopds, and formulated dry feed were used for first feeding in combination with flow through tanks or static tanks. For first feeding Paramecium caudatum in combination with a static tank system was optimal resulting in survival rates of circa 90% at 15 days post hatch (dph). Wild zooplankton was no optimal starter feed as perch fed non-selectively on any feed particle available. This resulted in moderate survival rates of circa 50% at 15 dph. First feeding with formulated dry feed caused malformations (enlargement of swimbladders) and a high mortality of > 80%. Weaning from Paramecium caudatum to formulated dry feed and to zooplankton was tested on 8-16 dph larvae. Perch accepted the new food type within 3 days. The optimal time point for zooplankton weaning was 12 dph. In this age larvae had developed a selective feeding behaviour, and fed mainly on nauplii and copepodites. Weaning to formulated dry feed was impossible as larvae developed malformations resulting in high mortality as described above. Weaning from wild zooplankton to formulated dry feed was possible for larvae ≥ 29 dph. No cannibalism was observed in the experiments. The method was also tested in large scale experiments resulting in a survival rate of 65±4%, a total length of 45.0±7.2 mm, and a body weight of 1097±293 mg at 75 dph.

Erythrocyte morphometry in teleost fish—Species‐specific, inter‐individual and environmental‐related differences

“…Cyprinus carpio, T. tinca and P. fluviatilis were initially reared in static water systems as the larvae did not tolerate constant water flow during the first development stages (Lahnsteiner & Kletzl, 2018). Larvae of these species are also unable to digest dry feed initially (Lahnsteiner & Kletzl, 2018). Therefore, the larvae were stocked in rectangular tanks with a volume of 1,000 L at quantities of 3 larvae/L (circa 3,000 larvae in total).…”

“…Water was tempered to the adequate temperature using thermostat‐regulated heating coils. Larvae were fed with Paramecium caudatum from 50 to 200°d and with live copepods from >200 to 500°d (Lahnsteiner & Kletzl, 2018). After >500°d, fish from each species were transferred from the static tanks to circular flow‐through tanks with a water supply of 0.5 L/s, and weaned to commercially available formulated dry feed.…”

“…Morphometric parameters of erythrocytes are used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of environmental pollutants (Fazio, Saoca, Ferrantelli, et al, 2019; Fazio, Saoca, Sanfilippo, et al, 2019; Witeska, 2013). They are an important tool in disease diagnosis and pathology (Clauss, Dove, & Arnold, 2008; Fazio, 2019) and used for evaluation of fish ploidy status (Kizak, Güner, Türel, & Kayim, 2013; Lahnsteiner & Kletzl, 2018). Moreover, erythrocyte morphometry can give information on adaptation of cell size in relation to physiological and environmental conditions and to different feeding habits (Acar et al, 2019; Lay & Baldwin, 1999; Parrino et al, 2018).…”

Mandarin fish (Sinipercidae) genomes provide insights into innate predatory feeding

“…For example, the first foods of yellow perch ( Perca flavescens ) larvae are copepod nauplii and cyclopoid copepods, and Bosmina coregoni becomes the dominant food after the fish reach a length of 11 mm 4 . Similarly, European perch ( Perca fluviatilis) larvae first feed on Paramecium caudatum 5 . Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua ) larvae feed on cultivated copepods ( Acartia tonsa ) at the first feeding 6 .…”

Microorganisms as a sustainable aquafeed ingredient: A review

“…Paramecium caudatum has been efficiently used for the first feeding of various species of fish larvae with mouths too small to ingest crustaceans such as zebrafish, Danio rerio (Borla et al, 2002), and have been used as first feeding for the hybrid of pikeperch and Volga pikeperch (Molnár et al, 2012). In a report by Lahnsteiner and Kletzl (2018), perch larvae could be successfully weaned from Paramecium caudatum to zooplankton at 10–18 DPH when the larvae have shown the selective feeding behaviour, which preferred nauplii and copepodites. However, feasting on this protozoan in early weaning caused high mortality as the larvae did not fully develop the selective feeding behaviour yet.…”