Fle. Chu et S. Ozkizilcik, Acceptability of complex microencapsulated diets by striped bass (Morone saxatilis) larvae, J EXP MAR B, 237(1), 1999, pp. 1-9
Citations number
27
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MARINE BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
The acceptability of two microencapsulated diets (casein-walled complex mic
rocapsules, CWC, and CWC containing water and lipid soluble fractions of Ar
temia, MCWC) by striped bass larvae, from 7 to 21 days posthatching (DPH),
was tested. These two microencapsulated diets were fed to striped bass larv
ae exclusively (CWC or MCWC alone, 1.1 mg/larva/day) or as partial replacem
ent of live food, Artemia nauplii (two nauplii/ml + MCWC, 1.1 mg/larva/day)
. Controls were unfed larvae and larvae fed with a full ration of Artemia (
five nauplii/ml) or 40% ration of Artemia (two nauplii/ml). The ingestion {
(number of larvae with food items in the gut divided by total number of lar
vae examined) X 100%} of CWC and MCWC by larvae were 42% and 75%, respectiv
ely at 7 DPH, while the ingestion in groups fed with full, or 40% ration Ar
temia, and fed 40% Artemia plus MCWC were nearly 100% (96%-98%). On 14 DPH,
the ingestion by the larvae fed CWC and MCWC increased markedly, reaching
100%. The survival of the larvae fed solely CWC and MCWC were 44% and 54% r
espectively, lower than the two controls fed full or 40% ration of Artemia
and the group fed MCWC + 40% Artemia. The survival of the later three group
s ranged from 72 to 78%. All the unfed larvae died by 19 DPH. The larvae fe
d a full ration of Artemia had the highest mean wet weight and total length
. Supplementing the group fed 40% ration Artemia with MCWC slightly improve
d the growth of the larvae compared to the nonsupplemented group. At the en
d of the experiment, larvae in that group had significantly greater wet wei
ght gain and total length than the nonsupplemented group. The results of th
is study revealed that a complex-protein walled capsule is readily ingested
by striped bass larvae at first feeding. Potentially, the complex-protein
microencapsulated diet containing Artemia extracts can be used as partial r
eplacement of live food. However, to achieve such a goal, study is needed t
o improve its nutritional quality and digestibility, in particular. (C) 199
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