Determining the optimum feed duration of Artemia nauplii to maximize hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis) larval growth in cool-water culture conditions. Issue 2 (3rd April 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fuller, S. Adam
• Is Part Of: Journal of applied aquaculture. Volume 34:Issue 2(2022)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 278
• Publication Date: 2022-04-03
• Subjects: Hybrid striped bass -- larviculture -- live feeds -- larval weaning -- Artemia -- Morone; Aquaculture -- Periodicals; Fish culture -- Periodicals; 639.8
• DOI: 10.1080/10454438.2020.1841059
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1045-4438

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Four-day-old hybrid striped bass (HSB; Morone chrysops x M. saxatilis ) larvae were stocked into a recirculating aquaculture system maintained at 18°C to mimic cool-water culture temperatures experienced by year-round producers to determine the earliest time HSB larvae could be weaned from Artemia to a commercial diet. After an initial 8-day rotifer feeding period where all treatments were fed three times daily with rotifers (60 rotifers/mL/tank/d), designated replicated treatments were progressively weaned from Artemia (12 Artemia /mL/tank/d) onto starter (3.0 g/tank/d) for 8 to 28 days in 4-day increments (DFA) for a total of six treatments. Survival of larvae by the end of the experiment ranged from 12.9% to 64.1% and averaged 31.2 ± 12.6% with no significant difference among treatments. At the end of the study, length of larvae ranged from 9.05 to 19.06 mm (mean 14.19 ± 1.92 mm), and body depth of larvae ranged from 1.52 to 4.35 mm (mean 2.71 ± 0.56 mm). Total length and body depth of larvae varied significantly based on DFA (P < 0.0001), with the largest larvae being the ones fed Artemia for the longest. Refinements of these feeding methods will help farmers more easily transition to tank-based production schemes, lead to year-round availability of fingerlings, and aid in expansion of the HSB aquaculture industry.