A Review of Cannibalism and its Implications in Fish Larviculture

A review of cannibalism is presented with particular emphasis on the role that this phenomenon plays in applied larviculture. Cannibalism is more ubiquitous than previously assumed and its implications under larviculture conditions are significant. The review is focused primarily on the two principal causes of sibling cannibalism. These are genetic and behavioral, the latter being influenced directly by environmental factors. Cannibalism is regarded as an alternative feeding strategy, more likely to be adopted by larvae and early juveniles which are carnivorous, when resources become limiting. Agonistic behavior induced mortality, the causes of which are identical to those of cannibalism, is also dealt with. Experimental results on the effects of several important environmental factors are presented and evaluated, and suggestions are made to reduce mortality rates under larviculture conditions.