L.S.C. Wan, P.W.S. Heng, L.W. Chan, C.C Lee, E.K. Ho, W.K. Ngoh, J. Walford, T.J. Lam-1997
J. Aqua. Trop., 12(3): 191-199
Abstract:
In experiments to investigate the effect of feeding encapsulated thyroid hormone on the growth and development of fish larvae, freshwater tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters), larvae and marine seabass, Lates calcarifer, larvae were fed Artemia nauplii and microspheres (Artemia + BM).
In the tilapia experiment, larvae were fed Artemia nauplii from the seventh day after hatching and the microspheres were added once a week, on the first day and the eighth day after the start of feeding. On the fourth and seventh day there was no difference in wet weight or total length between the larvae fed Artemia + T4 M and those fed Artemia + BM. However, on day 11, the larvae fed Artemia + T4 M were significantly longer and heavier and had significantly longer caudal fins than those fed Artemia + BM. Older (16-day) larvae were used in the seabass experiment, and the microspheres were added more frequently: on alternate days instead of once a week. 15 Days after the start of feeding with microspheres, there was no significant difference in wet weight or total length between the two groups of larvae. However, after 27 days, the larvae fed Artemia + T4 M were significantly longer and heavier than those fed Artemia + BM.
(Department of Pharmacy, School of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 0511)