Feeding behaviour, feed selectivity and growth studies of mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus, larvae using various live and formulated feeds

Abstract

Nine types of live foods viz. L, S and SS morphotypes of Brachionus plicatilis sp. complex, first instar Artemia franciscana, Fabrea salina, Acartia tsuensis, Tigriopus japonicus, Diaphanosoma celebensis, Moina mongolica and a formulated feed of two sizes (400 and 700 µm) were used to observe feeding behaviour and growth of mangrove killifish, Kryptolebias marmoratus. Behavioural observations were made for one hour on days 0, 1, 5, and 10 after hatching. Focus, unsuccessful and successful attacks and vomit were noted. With rotifers L, S and SS types and newly hatched Artemia nauplii as food, all the larvae showed maximum feeding success throughout the experimental period. Larvae did not consume any of the 700 µm artificial diet. Vomiting was noticed on capturing the ciliate Fabrea and 400 µm artificial diets. Rotifers were ingested in greater numbers. SS-type rotifers were consumed in largest number (209.2/h per individual) on day 10. Significantly greater growth was observed after 10 days rearing with L type rotifer, Artemia nauplii, T. japonicus, A. tsuensis, M. mongolica, D. celebensis, and a mixture of L type rotifer and F. salina (Tukey-Kramer post hoc test, P<0.05). Feed selectivity experiments on days 0, 1, 5 and 10 revealed that killifish larvae feed preferentially on Artemia nauplii and rotifers from a mixture of Artemia nauplii, rotifers, A. tsuensis, T. japonicus, D. celebensis and M. mongolica. Techniques for culturing various zooplankton at small-scales are also described.

Establishing Developmental Genetics in a Self-fertilizing Fish (Krytolebias marmoratus)

“…display considerable variability in the number of eggs it lays (oviposits) by self-fertilization in a week or even through cyclical periods of time (Harrington 1963;Grageda et al 2005). Juvenile fish prefer fresh rotifers or brine shrimp, Artemia nauplii (Pandey et al 2008), but it is convenient to feed both juveniles and adults brine shrimp ad libitum. We sought to increase egg production consistently from our adult fish to maximize numbers of offspring in our genetic screen and reduce subsequent generation times.…”

Locomotory behaviour of euryhaline rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis: The potential influence of probiotics on swimming pattern and speed

“…Also, these fast‐moving rotifers are likely to confer physiological growth benefits on fish larvae. It has been observed that, even though fish larvae have difficulty in feeding fast‐moving prey, those that ingest these live feeds finally show better growth quality (Beck & Turingan, 2007; Pandey et al., 2008). Therefore, understanding the effect of probiotics on rotifer swimming behaviour is important for improving the efficiency and effectiveness of rotifer and fish larvae production.…”

Composición de ácidos grasos en huevos y adultos de Tigriopus angulatus (Copepoda: Harpacticoida)

“…Estudios referentes a la optimización de las dietas de larvas de peces han establecido que los copépodos harpacticoídeos presentan mejores calidades nutritivas que otras dietas comúnmente utilizadas, tales como aquellas basadas en nauplius de Artemia sp. y rotíferos enriquecidos (Kahan et al 1982, McEvoy et al 1998, Pandey et al 2008. La necesidad de buscar dietas nutritivas se fundamenta en que las larvas de peces marinos como el halibut, Hippoglossus hippoglossus, y el turbot Scophthalmus maximus presentan una capacidad enzimática limitada para sintetizar, elongar y desaturar cadenas de ácidos grasos poli-insaturados (AGPI) a largas cadenas de ácidos grasos altamente-insaturados (AGAI) (Castell et al 1994, McEvoy et al 1998, Nanton & Castell 1999.…”