Effects of different food on growth and survival of first-feeding taimen Hucho taimen (Pallas, 1773) larvae

Abstract

A study was conducted to compare growth and survival of Hucho taimen larvae from 21 to 76 days after hatch (DAH) fed one of three diets: formulated feed alone (group F); a co-feeding diet of water fleas, tubifex and formulated feed (group C); or live food of water fleas and tubifex (group L), and to investigate the potential use of dietary L-alanyl-L-glutamine (L-AG) in larval taimen for a more nutritious starter diet. Triplicate groups of 5000 fish were randomly assigned to each aquarium provided with water from a flow-through system, and fed to apparent satiation. The results show that larvae can feed efficiently on floating crumbled particles of formulated feed. Weight gain of larvae fed only formulated feed was significantly lower than other groups at 34 DAH (P < 0.05). At the end of the experiment, weight gain reached the highest value in group F and was lowest in group L (P < 0.05). Condition factor reached the highest values in group F and lowest in group C (P < 0.05). Specific growth rate was in accordance with weight gain at 76 DAH. Survival showed no differences among the groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, H. taimen larvae can be fed formulated feed alone and L-AG may be used as a feeding attractant during the weaning process, which should lead to a better understanding in the rearing improvement in the feeding of larvae.