Red Porgy, Pagrus pagrus, Larvae Performance and Nutritional Condition in Response to Different Weaning Regimes

Abstract

Red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, is a candidate species for aquaculture diversification. The aim of this work was to assess whether an early supply of enriched Artemia (D1) or a direct step to dry diets (D3) would be advantageous weaning strategies for red porgy larvae, compared to a later supply of Artemia followed by dry diets (D2). Direct weaning to dry diet resulted in significantly lower growth, survival, pancreatic (trypsin and lipase), and intestinal (alkaline phosphatase) enzyme‐specific activity, with the exception of leucine‐alanine peptidase. The direct weaning strategy presented severe nutritional restrictions from early weaning stages with an associated delay of the maturation of digestive system. The two‐step strategy presented in D1 and D2 resulted in comparable results in most parameters, including survival. Weaning using enriched Artemia as an intermediate step is confirmed as the most adequate strategy for red porgy larvae. Digestive enzymes and selected fatty acids correlated well with performance responses to dietary regimes, thereby supporting the use of these parameters as sensitive and reliable indicators of red porgy nutritional or physiological status during larval stages.

Organogenesis of the digestive system in Pacific red snapper (Lutjanus peru ) larvae

“…Larviculture of the Pacific red snapper is still underdevelopment; in this study, several preys from different sources were offered. Survival at 30 DPH was around 5% and total length at this age was 13.3 ± 0.90 mm, which is similar to that reported in other snapper species like spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus , TL at 27 DPH was 8.7 ± 0.06 mm (Boza‐Abarca, Calvo‐Vargas, Solis‐Ortíz & Komen ), in Lutjanus campechanus SL at 33 DPH was 16.50 mm (Drass, Bootes, Lyczkowski‐Shultz, Comyns, Holt, Riley & Phelps ) and in Pagrus pagrus TL at 30 DPH was 10.91 ± 0.5 mm (Andrade, Nascimento, Conceicao, Linares, Lacuisse & Dinis ). The present study revealed that the differentiation and development of the digestive tract of Pacific red snapper larvae follows a pattern previously reported in marine fish larvae and that gastric glands are formed at 23 DPH.…”

Responses of digestive enzymes and body lipids to weaning times in yellowtail kingfishSeriola lalandi(Valenciennes, 1833) larvae

“…; Engrola, Figueira, Conceição, Gavaia, Ribeiro & Dinis ). However, too early introduction of artificial feed may have a negative effect on fish larvae (Ringo, Johansen & Raa ; Andrade, Nascimento, Conceição, Linares, Lacuisse & Dinis ) due to poor food digestibility (Cahu & Zambonino Infante ).…”

“…Recent studies have also shown that early introduction of artificial feed with a co-feeding strategy improves the quality of larvae at the later stage (Rosenlund et al 1997;Engrola, Figueira, Conceição, Gavaia, Ribeiro & Dinis 2009a). However, too early introduction of artificial feed may have a negative effect on fish larvae (Ringo, Johansen & Raa 1991;Andrade, Nascimento, Conceição, Linares, Lacuisse & Dinis 2012) due to poor food digestibility (Cahu & Zambonino Infante 2001).…”

Ontogenic development of enzymatic activity and digestive system in Jullien's golden carp (Probarbus jullieniSauvage, 1880)

“…Growth and feed utilization of fish are mainly driven by the actions of digestive system. Ontogenic development of the digestive enzymes has been studied in several fish species in order to use such basic data in artificial diet development (Andrade et al, ; Mata‐Sotres, Moyano, Martínez‐Rodríguez, & Yúfera, ; Srichanun, Tantikitti, Utarabhand, & Kortner, ). Fluctuations in digestive enzyme activities suggest gradual differentiation or maturation of the digestive system (Cahu & Zambonino‐Infante, ).…”