A formulated diet for Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus, L.) larvae

A diet for Atlantic halibut-larvae was formulated taking into account the f act that marine-fish larvae have a limited ability to assimilate protein an d lipid. Dietary protein consisted of a free amino-acid premix (7.2% of cru de protein), predigested-quid mantle (7.2%), squid mantle (8.6%) and cod-mu scle mince (77.0%). Lipid sources were soyabean lecithin (33% of crude lipi ds), crude phospholipids extracted from cod roe (10%) and sardine oil(57%). Larvae were weaned onto the experimental diet at wet-body weights of 0.07, 0.10 or 0.16 g, respectively. The experimental diet was fed for 31, 25 or 17 days, respectively, and the experiment was terminated on the same calend ar day for all groups. A control group was fed with Artemia nauplii enriche d with DHA Selco(TM) from 0.07 g. Survivals ranged from 78% in larvae trans ferred at 0.10 g to 96% in those transferred at 0.16 g and in the control g roup. Daily specific-growth rates (SGR) were 3.1 +/- 0.07, 3.3 +/- 0.11 and 2.2 +/- 0.01% day(-1) in larvae transferred at 0.07, 0.10 and 0.16 g, resp ectively, while growth in the control group was 5.1% day(-1). It was conclu ded that weaning of Atlantic-halibut larvae is feasible from 0.7 g (approxi mately 20 days post first-feeding) when the formulated diet contains predig ested protein and ample amounts of phospholipids.