Efficacy of Concentrated Algal Paste During Greenwater Phase of Cobia Larviculture |
| |
| Authors: | Michael H Schwarz Steven R Craig Brendan C Delbos Ewen McLean |
| |
| Institution: | 1. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center , Hampton, VA, 23669mschwarz@vt.edu;3. Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences , VA/MD Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA, 24061;4. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center , Hampton, VA, 23669;5. Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences , Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University , Blacksburg, VA, 24061 |
| |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine if concentrated algal paste could effectively replace live algae during the greenwater stage of cobia fingerling production without negative impact upon larval growth or survival. Mean cobia survival per tank from 2 dph through post weaning at 28 dph for the live algae treatment was 24.44 ± 2.43% (mean ± SD) as compared to 24.47 ± 2.48% for the algal paste treatment. Furthermore, the number of fish produced per liter for the live algae treatment was 2.44 ± 0.24 fish/L compared to 2.47 ± 0.25 fish /L recorded from the algal paste treatment. Mean fish weight for cobia weanlings from the live algae treatment was 0.417 ± 0.059 g compared to 0.411 ± 0.026 g for the algal paste treatment. These observations demonstrate that during the greenwater stage of cobia larviculture, live algae can be completely replaced with commercially available, concentrated algal paste without negative impact upon cobia growth, survival, or resultant weanling production per unit volume. |
| |
| Keywords: | Marine finfish fingerling production mariculture |
|
|
