Decapsulated Artemia Cysts: A Suitable Dietary Supplement for Juvenile Tench (Tinca tinca L.)

There are no specifically formulated dry foods for tench (Tinca tinca L.), which forces farmers to use diets formulated for other fish species. This has major drawbacks, such as high mortality, slow growth, and body deformities. A 120 day experiment was performed with five-month-old juvenile tench (initial mean weight: 0.388 g; total length: 31.78 mm) to evaluate decapsulated Artemia cysts as a supplement to a dry diet for other fish species. Three treatments, differing in the daily supplement, were tested: 1,800 freshly hatched nauplii, 1,800 cysts, and 300 cysts per g of tench biomass. Final survival ranged between 95.3% and 97.9%. Juvenile tench that received the supplement of 1,800 decapsulated Artemia cysts had a specific growth rate (1.28), weight (1.83 g), and total length (52.30 mm) significantly higher than those with the same amount of nauplii. The lowest supplement (300 cysts/g of fish biomass) allowed significantly lower growth and higher condition coefficient (1.40) than the rest. Animals with body deformities (1.06%) were only recorded in the groups that received the lowest cyst supplement. Results showed Artemia cysts are a suitable dietary supplement for juvenile tench, being an advantageous alternative to live nauplii.     

Optimal first feed organism for South African mud crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scylla serrata</Emphasis> (Forskål) larvae

It is not known whether rotifers or Artemia nauplii are the best first food for South African mud crab Scylla serrata larvae. In order to test this, larvae were fed with five different test diets. These were rotifers for the first 8 days and newly hatched EG^® type Artemia nauplii (San Francisco Bay) from day 6 onwards (treatment R6A); newly hatched EG^® type Artemia nauplii throughout the rearing period (treatment EG); newly hatched Vinh-Chau strain (Vietnam) Artemia nauplii throughout the rearing period (treatment VC); decapsulated cysts of EG^® type Artemia throughout the rearing period (treatment DECAP); or decapsulated cysts supplemented with low densities of Artemia EG type Artemia nauplii (treatment MIX). Two experiments were conducted approximately 1 month apart using larvae from two different female crabs. Although results showed it is possible to rear S. serrata larvae through metamorphosis on Artemia nauplii exclusively, larval performance (development, survival and successful metamorphosis) was enhanced by the inclusion of rotifers as a first feed.No significant difference in performance was recorded between larvae fed on the two strains of Artemia nauplii. Larvae fed on decapsulated cysts in treatments DECAP and MIX performed poorly, but there were indications that decapsulated cysts and other inert diets may have potential as supplements to live food in the rearing of S. serrata larvae.     

Weaning of bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus) from live food to microparticulate diets made with decapsulated cysts of Artemia and fishmeal

Two experiments were carried out to test microparticulate diets forweaning hatchery-produced larvae and juveniles of bullseye pufferSphoeroides annulatus. The diets were formulated with differentprotein sources: diet 1 with a combination of decapsulated cysts ofArtemia and fishmeal, and diet 2 with a combination offishmeal, squid, tuna gonad and shrimp meal. In the first experiment60-days-old fish were weaned with the microdiets over five days. Fishsurvival after 11 weeks of feeding was 92% for diet 1, 85%for diet 2, and 95% for the control fish fed Artemianauplii. Once it was determined that bullseye puffer can be adequatelyreared with artificial dry diets, diet 1 was used to test earlier timesfor weaning to reduce the period of Artemia feeding. In thesecond experiment, three different times were tested for initiation ofweaning in sibling fish larvae, i.e., at 29, 34, and 39 days post-hatch.Small differences in weight, length and survival were found amongweaning treatments after 23 days of feeding. When weaned at day 29post-hatch, fish larvae grew from an initial weight of 38.4 mg andlength of 11.1 mm to a final weight and length of 405.7 mg and 25.1 mmrespectively. Final survival in this treatment was 49.3%. Thereduced period of Artemia feeding would provide an economicalalternative for the species to take into consideration for its cultureat commercial scale.     

Rearing juvenile tench (Tinca tinca L.) under controlled conditions using Artemia nauplii as supplement to a dry diet

A 120-day experiment was performed with 4-month-old juvenile tench [initial mean weight: 0.31 g; total length (TL): 32 mm] to evaluate live Artemia nauplii as supplement to a dry diet for salmonids. All groups received the dry diet. Five treatments, differing in the amount of supplemented Artemia, were tested: without supplement, 450, 900, and 1,800 nauplii g⁻¹ initial fish biomass, and nauplii in excess. Groups that received Artemia supplement had significantly higher survival (between 89.4 and 98.7%) compared to those that received dry diet alone (49.2%), while among them there was no significant difference. Juvenile tench fed the dry diet supplemented with Artemia in excess had a specific growth rate (1.98), weight (3.40 g), and TL (63.90 mm) significantly higher than those in the rest of the treatments. The latter three features were not significantly different under limited co-feeding (450, 900, and 1,800 nauplii g⁻¹ biomass) averaging 1.26 specific growth rate, 1.40 g weight, and 48.50 mm TL. Tench fed the dry diet alone grew significantly less than the rest. Thus, the drawbacks of feeding juvenile tench with dry foods originally formulated for other fish species can be overcome by providing a supplement of Artemia nauplii.     

Shelter and lighting in the intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) from the onset of exogenous feeding

Recent advances on feeding in intensive rearing of juvenile astacids enable research of other factors influencing growth and survival without the confounding effect of inadequate feeding. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of the number of shelters per crayfish and to test different lighting conditions. Stage 2 juvenile Pacifastacus leniusculus were stocked in fibreglass tanks and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of decapsulated Artemia cysts. In experiment 1, four, two or one shelters per crayfish were tested for 80 days. No significant differences were found among groups either in survival (final mean: 86.67%) or in growth [final mean: 11.41 mm mean carapace length (CL), 355.45 mg mean weight]. In experiment 2, three lighting conditions were tested for 120 days: continuous lighting of 925 lx, continuous darkness and natural photoperiod. Survival rates ranged from 76.7% to 88.3%, with no significant differences among groups. The crayfish kept under continuous darkness grew faster (final mean: 12.70 mm CL, 543.08 mg weight) than those reared under the other two light conditions. This study shows that, under improved feeding conditions, a minimum number of shelters can be provided, and faster growth can be obtained in continuous darkness.     

Development of First-Feeding Protocols for Indoor Larviculture of Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Largemouth bass (LMB) Micropterus salmoides fry do not accept prepared diets at first feeding. Fry are initially reared in fertilized ponds on natural live foods until large enough to be feed trained. Unpredictable weather patterns and depletion of natural forages can affect nursery pond survival. A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the use of Artemia nauplii prepared diets and optimal feeding schedules to raise LMB fry from first feeding through habituation to a commercial dry diet. In Studies 1, 2, and 3, swim-up fry were transferred to a recirculating system and stocked into either 3-L (Studies 1 and 2) or 10-L (Study 3) acrylic aquaria. Study 1 screened candidate diets to evaluate whether LMB fry could be transitioned directly to prepared diets or if they required live foods. In Study 2 the optimum duration for feeding live Artemia (1, 2, or 3 weeks) and the appropriate size of commercial diets (<200 or 200–360 μm) were evaluated. Study 3 was designed to identify the best transitional feed. Results from Study 1 indicate that fry fed Otohime-A (<200 μm) and decapsulated Artemia cysts performed better than those fed other diets tested. However, survivals were low (6%–8%) indicating a need for live feed initially. In Trial 2, fry fed live Artemia nauplii for two weeks and then transitioned to a 200–360 μm diet (Otohime-B) performed better than other diet combinations tested. In Study 3, survival was significantly higher in treatments using decapsulated Artemia cysts or Otohime-B as transitional diets between initial live Artemia feeding and trout starter. These data indicate that LMB fry can be successfully raised from first feeding to fully habituated to a commercial trout starter by feeding live Artemia nauplii for two weeks, followed by a gradual transition to either decapsulated Artemia cysts or Otohime-B for one week, then gradually transitioning to trout starter. Surviving fish were easily transitioned to commercial floating feed (Study 4). This protocol yielded survival rates of approximately 70% and may improve the reliability of LMB fingerling production by eliminating the outdoor nursery pond phase.     

Response of juvenile astacid crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) to three commercial dry diets with different protein levels during the first 6 months of intensive rearing

A 180‐day experiment was carried out under controlled conditions to compare the effects of three commercial dry diets on survival, growth and body composition of juvenile Pacifastacus leniusculus from the onset of exogenous feeding (stage 2). Protein levels in the diets were 55.5% [high‐protein content (HP) diet], 40.3% [medium‐protein content (MP)] and 33.2% [low‐protein content (LP)]. Diets were supplemented with restricted amounts of live fresh Artemia nauplii up to day 120. No significant differences in survival among diets were found along the trial, with final values around 68.5%. During the live feed supplementation, growth was similar with the three diets. At the end of the trial, weight with HP or with MP was similar (around 2.32 g) and significantly higher than with LP (1.97 g). Thus, a diet with 40% of protein can be suitable, as it allowed similar results as the diet containing 55%. Levels of protein in diets and in crayfish muscle were positively correlated (r=0.8). This study also shows that an intensive rearing up to 180 days with good survival and growth rates is possible using dry diets for finfish species supplemented with live feed.     

黑点青鳉的生长和摄食行为发育

针对黑点青鳉实验室养殖成活率低的问题,对其摄食行为发育进行研究,了解其早期阶段的摄食行为发育状况,为人工养殖提供理论依据。通过单摄像机结合镜面成像的方法,对黑点青鳉胚后发育阶段90 d摄食行为的观察与分析,研究了投喂卤虫无节幼体条件下黑点青鳉的生长特征和摄食行为发育。结果显示,幼体体长平均生长率为2.579%/d,体长与日龄间关系为y=3.132+0.383x-0.004x^2+0.00003x^3,R^2=0.98。通过各项摄食行为指标将其幼体生长发育分为3期6个阶段:仔鱼期(0~10 d)分为前仔鱼期(0~4 d)和后仔鱼期(5~10 d),稚鱼期(11~30 d)分为前稚鱼期(11~18 d)、中稚鱼期(19~24 d)和后稚鱼期(25~30 d),幼鱼期(31~65 d)。黑点青鳉幼体出膜4 d后开始投喂初孵卤虫,至10 d所有鱼苗均能捕食。黑点青鳉仔鱼期幼体死亡率较高,但摄食能力稳步提升,至该期末,摄食成功率提升至45%~55%,摄食效率达0.5~0.6个/min;稚鱼期幼体的各项摄食指标均有大幅度提升,对饵料的响应时间不断缩短,摄食速率提高,响应距离也逐渐增长,摄食量增大,摄食成功率已提升至90%~95%;幼鱼期各项摄食指标已接近成鱼,摄食效率达9个/min以上,摄食功能已趋于完善。研究表明,黑点青鳉在仔鱼期对卤虫无节幼体的响应距离短、摄食速率低下,摄食成功率与摄食效率均处于较低水平,随着其自身的发育以及摄食能力的稳定提升,摄食成功率和摄食效率逐步提高,成活率趋于稳定。养殖期间,通过密切注意黑点青鳉的摄食行为变化,改变投喂的数量和频次,使更多的仔鱼尽快过渡到稚鱼期,可能是提高养殖成活率的一条有效途径。     

Use of decapsulated Artemia cysts in ornamental fish culture

Two series of feeding experiments were conducted to study the feasibility of using decapsulated Artemia cysts for direct feeding to ornamental fish. The first series evaluated the dietary values of the dried and the brine decapsulated Artemia cysts against two conventional live feeds, Artemia nauplii and Moina for adults and fry of the guppy, Poecilia reticulata Peters. In the second series, brine cysts were used for feeding to fry of four other important ornamental fish species, viz. platy, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther), swordtail, X. helleri (Heckel), molly, P. sphenops Cuvier & Valenciennes and black neon tetra, Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi Géry, and the results were compared with those fed Moina. Evaluation of the performance of the fish fed the various diets was based on stress resistance, growth and survival of the fish. Our findings indicated that decapsulated cysts could be used as a substitute for Artemia nauplii or Moina in freshwater ornamental fish culture. Apart from being a hygienic off‐the‐shelf feed, the direct use of the cysts also signifies a new area of application for low‐hatch cysts in the ornamental fish industry, with concomitant saving in feed costs.     

Effect of different food items on the survival and growth of Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez-Farfante 1967) postlarvae

The effect of different food items on growth and survival was assessed in four feeding experiments conducted consecutively using distinct Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez‐Farfante) postlarval growing stages: (1) PL₁–PL₄ (i.e. from postlarvae 1‐day old to postlarvae 4 days old); and (2) PL₄–PL₁₀; (3) PL₁₀–PL₁₈ and (4) PL₁₈–PL₃₀. For each trial, 10 feeding treatments were tested in triplicate: Unf, unfed shrimp; Tt, Tetraselmis chuii; Ch, Chaetoceros calcitrans; C, commercial diet; AC, decapsulated Artemia cysts; C+Ph, commercial diet and phytoplankton combination; FA, frozen Artemia nauplii; A, live Artemia nauplii; A+Ph, Artemia nauplii and phytoplankton combination and Mix, mixture of phytoplankton, live Artemia nauplii and commercial diet. Postlarvae feed phytoplankton (i.e. Tt or Ch) exclusively exhibited low growth and survival. The best results for growth and survival were observed in the A, A+Ph and Mix treatments. Frozen Artemia nauplii was found to be suitable for younger postlarvae (PL_1–10), whereas AC may be offered from PL₄ to PL₃₀. In general, the present findings indicated that even at an early postlarval stage, F. paulensis presents a high degree of carnivory, and a diet containing Artemia is recommended.     

Tench (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tinca tinca</Emphasis> L.) larvae rearing under controlled conditions: density and basic supply of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemia</Emphasis> nauplii as the sole food

After artificial reproduction of tench, larvae must be maintained indoors, and studies on rearing conditions are needed, focussing on the reduction of labour and costs. Three experiments on larvae (5th day post-hatch) were conducted for 25 days using Artemia nauplii as the sole food in order to determine basic feeding and density conditions during the first rearing period. Tench were maintained in 25 l fibreglass tanks, supplied with an artesian water flow throughout of 0.2 l min⁻¹. Water temperature was 22.5 ± 1°C, and the photoperiod was natural. Larvae fed on a restricted amount of nauplii reached high survival rates, even with the minimum of 50 nauplii larva⁻¹ day⁻¹. This amount of food may be sufficient at least for the first 25 days of exogenous feeding if fast growth is not the priority, and high densities can be maintained with good survival rates (over 90% up to 160 larvae l⁻¹ and 77% with 320 larvae l⁻¹). When food was supplied in excess once a day, high survival rates were achieved (91–97%), without differences among the densities tested. Animals at a density of 100 l⁻¹ reached the highest length (15.57 mm) and individual weight (46.8 mg). This growth is greater than those reported in studies feeding several times a day. It could be deduced that, while live food remains available for tench, it is not necessary to feed so frequently. Considering the relationship among the initial number of animals, final survival and growth and ration supplied, the new data reported here are useful to establish suitable stocking densities under both culture and experimental conditions.     

Evaluation of partial replacement of live and fresh feeds with a formulated diet and the influence of weaning <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panulirus ornatus</Emphasis> phyllosomata onto a formulated diet during early ontogeny

We have evaluated the potential of a formulated diet as a replacement for live and fresh feeds for 7-day post-hatch Panulirus ornatus phyllosomata and also investigated the effect of conditioning phyllosomata for 14–21 days on live feeds prior to weaning onto a 100% formulated diet. In the first trial, the highest survival (>55%) was consistently shown by phyllosomata fed a diet consisting of a 50% combination of Artemia nauplii and 50% Greenshell mussel, followed by phyllosomata fed 50% Artemia nauplii and 50% formulated diet and, thirdly, by those receiving 100% Artemia nauplii. The second trial assessed the replacement of on-grown Artemia with proportions of formulated diet and Greenshell mussel that differed from those used in trial 1. Phyllosomata fed a 75% combination of formulated diet and 25% on-grown Artemia and 50% on-grown Artemia and 50% Greenshell mussel consistently showed the highest survival (>75%). Combinations of Greenshell mussel and formulated diet resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) reduced survival. In trial 3, phyllosomata were conditioned for 14, 18 or 21 days on Artemia nauplii prior to weaning onto a 100% formulated diet, which resulted in survival rates that were negatively related to the duration of feeding Artemia nauplii. In the final trial, phyllosomata were conditioned for 14 days on live on-grown Artemia prior to weaning onto one of three formulated diets (one diet with 44% CP and two diets with 50%). Phyllosomata fed a 44% CP diet consistently showed the highest survival (>35%) among all treatments, while those fed a 50%-squid CP diet showed a significant (P < 0.05) increase in mortality at day 24. The results of these trials demonstrate that hatcheries can potentially replace 75% of live on-grown Artemia with a formulated diet 7 days after hatch. The poor performance associated with feeding combinations of Greenshell mussel and formulated diet, and 100% formulated diet as well as conditioning phyllosomata for 14–21 days on live feeds prior to weaning onto a formulated diet highlights the importance of providing Artemia to stimulate feeding.     

Stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopes as natural indicators of live and dry food in Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) larval tissue

This study proposed the use of the stable isotope technique to track the type of food utilized by pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus larvae during their development, and to identify the moment when the larvae start using nutrients from the dry diet by retaining its carbon and nitrogen atoms in their body tissues. Five‐day‐old pacu larvae at the onset of exogenous feeding were fed Artemia nauplii or formulated diet exclusively; nauplii+formulated diet during the entire period; or were weaned from nauplii to a dry diet after 3, 6 or 12 days after the first feeding. δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values for Artemia nauplii were ?15.1‰ and 4.7‰, respectively, and ?25.0‰ and 7.4‰ for the dry diet. The initial isotopic composition of the larval tissue was ?20.2‰ and 9.5‰ for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N respectively. Later, at the end of a 42‐day feeding period, larvae fed Artemia nauplii alone reached values of ?12.7‰ and 7.0‰ for δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N respectively. Larvae that received the formulated diet alone showed values of ?22.7‰ for δ¹³C and 9.6‰ for δ¹⁵N. The stable isotope technique was precise, and the time at which the larvae utilized Artemia nauplii, and later dry diet as a food source could be clearly defined.     

A comparison of artificial and natural foods and their combinations in the rearing of goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.)

Intensive grow‐out of goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), larvae and juveniles in closed systems requires the control of environmental conditions and feeding. This study investigates the use of different types of live food and combinations of live food and dry food in a series of four rearing experiments. Juvenile goldfish can be weaned from Artemia onto live food at about 24 days after the onset of feeding without causing a reduction in growth and survival. The replacement of Artemia by Daphnia at day 10 appears feasible, as growth and survival were not significantly affected. Fish fed decapsulated Artemia cysts grew better than fish fed live Artemia. Within the first 14 days, goldfish juveniles should be fed at least 155 cysts per fish per day to achieve fast growth and to minimize size variation.     

Decapsulated Artemia cysts of different quality (high or low hatch‐rate) as direct food for tench (Tinca tinca L.) larvae

Three 30‐day experiments were conducted to evaluate decapsulated Artemia cysts with different quality (high or low hatch‐rate) as food for tench (Tinca tinca L.) larvae from the onset of exogenous feeding. In experiment 1, three diets were tested: Artemia nauplii‐only or cysts‐only for 30 days, and nauplii for the first 7 days and cysts thereafter. The cysts used had 86% hatching rate (high hatch‐rate cysts). The same feeding treatments were replicated in experiment 2 but with low hatch‐rate cysts (10% hatching rate). In experiment 3, five diets were tested: high hatch‐rate cysts only or low hatch‐rate cysts only for 30 days, and nauplii for the first 7, 4 or 2 days and low hatch‐rate cysts thereafter. In overall, survival was high, except with the low hatch‐rate cysts only diet. Feeding tench larvae with cysts resulted in higher growth and lower FCR compared to feeding with live nauplii only. High hatch‐rate Artemia cysts are a suitable food from the onset of exogenous feeding and low hatch‐rate cysts can be successfully used after 2–7 days feeding on nauplii.     

Brachionus vs Artemia duel: Optimizing first feeding of Upogebia pusilla (Decapoda: Thalassinidea) larvae

Larval rearing of many marine organisms is dependent on the availability of live food. The aim of this study was to optimize larval first feeding for the mud shrimp Upogebia pusilla, by comparing the effectiveness of the two most commonly used live feeds: Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia sp. nauplii. Survival, larval duration, molt synchronism and megalop size were compared using five feeding treatments: Artemia from zoea I to IV (B0), Brachionus during zoea I and Artemia from zoea II to IV (B1), Brachionus during zoea I and II and Artemia during zoea III and IV (B2), Brachionus from zoea I to III and Artemia during zoea IV (B3) and Brachionus from zoea I to IV (B4). The proportion of larvae that reached the megalop stage was 0.00% in treatment B0, 3.33% in treatment B1, 33.33% in treatment B2, 66.67% in treatment B3 and 76.67% in treatment B4. Larvae fed on rotifers until zoea III or zoea IV stages had a higher survival but no differences were found either in time to reach megalop or in megalop size. This study demonstrates that rotifers are essential for the survival and development of U. pusilla early larval stages but that rotifers can be successfully replaced by Artemia nauplii in the zoea IV stage.     

Effects of dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on growth and body composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on the growth, feed utilization, and body composition of juvenile rockfish. Triplicate groups of fish (body weight of 4.1 g) were fed the experimental diets containing either high levels of carbohydrate (HC, 35%), lipid (HL, 13%), or protein (HP, 55%) at different feeding frequencies (twice daily, once daily, and once every 2 days). Weight gain was affected by feeding frequency but not by dietary composition. Weight gain of fish fed the diets once every 2 days was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of other groups. Daily feed intake and energy intake were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency. Daily feed intake of fish fed the HC diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HL and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency and decreased with increasing feeding frequency in the same dietary composition. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the HC diet were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of fish fed the HL diet at the same feeding frequency. Whole-body lipid content of fish fed the HL diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HC and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. These results indicate that an increase of dietary lipid level compared with dietary carbohydrate level may have the advantage of a protein-sparing effect at same feeding frequency, and a once-daily feeding regime is more effective than twice daily or one feeding every 2 days to improve growth performance of juvenile rockfish grown from 4 to 21 g.     

Nutritional evaluation of decapsulated cysts of fairy shrimp (Streptocephalus dichotomus) for ornamental fish larval rearing

The suitability of decapsulated cysts of the fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus dichotomus as a sole diet was evaluated for the ornamental angelfish Pterophylum scalare larvae. Brine shrimp, Artemia sp., and microworms, Panagrellus redivivus, were used as comparison foods. The results indicate an appreciable weight gain of 15.22±1.69 mg and a growth (length) of 0.876±0.03 cm in experimental fish fed decapsulated fairy shrimp cysts compared with the growth and weight of fish fed other foods. The influence of the experimental diets was further reflected in the composition of fatty acid and amino‐acid profiles of the experimental fish. Angelfish larvae readily consumed the decapsulated cysts and utilized them efficiently during the early days of exogenous feeding.     

Rearing dover sole larvae onTisbe andArtemia diets

The suitability of the harpacticoid copepodTisbe holothuriae as a diet for larval and juvenile Dover sole (Solea solea) was assessed by rearing groups of sole for 42 days under a range of dietary regimes. Larval sole, approximately 1 week old, were reared onTisbe, Artemia, or a mixedTisbe-Artemia diet for 13 days. No significant differences in length between sole larvae from any diet were found after this time, but larvae offeredArtemia alone showed a significantly higher frequency of malpigmentation than those offered the other diets. After metamorphosis (day 16), survivors of this experiment were reared for a further 29 days on various diets to give the following dietary sequences:Tisbe-fed larvae, fed onArtemia as juveniles (Tis.-Art.);Artemia-fed larvae, fed onArtemia as juveniles (Art.-Art.);Artemia-fed larvae, fed onTisbe as juveniles (Art.-Tis.) and mixed diet fed larvae, fed on a mixed diet as juveniles (AT-AT). At the end of this period AT-AT and Tis.-Art.-fed juveniles were significantly larger than those on the Art.-Art. dietary regime. Juveniles from the Tis.-Art. dietary regime consumed more prey items than the Art.-Art group. AT-AT juveniles consumed similar amounts of food to Art.-Art. juveniles but were significantly larger after 29 days culture. This was attributed to the presence ofTisbe in their diet. Overall, the best larval and juvenile diet appeared to be a mixed diet throughout the culture period.     

Intensive rearing of juvenile crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus,Astacidae) during the first 6 months: effects of size grading

Recent advances in crayfish feeding have enabled the development of size grading studies from the start of first‐feeding. A 180‐day experiment aimed at intensive rearing of Pacifastacus leniusculus was carried out under controlled conditions, evaluating the effects of size grading at two different periods from the onset of exogenous feeding. Stage 2 juveniles were stocked in fibreglass tanks at a density of 100 m², and fed a dry diet for salmonids combined with restricted amounts of Artemia cysts. Five groups were tested: no grading, grading at 60 days (large and small size) and grading at 100 days (large and small size). After 6 months, no significant differences were found in the survival among groups (mean: 73.06%). The highest final growth (pooled results from upper and lower classes: 17.39 mm carapace length, 1.43 g weight) was achieved by the crayfish sorted at 60 days, showing significant differences from the ungraded group. Smaller crayfish graded at 60 days grew significantly faster than smaller crayfish graded at 100 days. The food conversion ratio was lower in the graded groups (mean: 2.64), showing significant differences from the ungraded group (3.23). This study shows that size grading allows a better performance and an improved feeding efficiency.