M.F. Payne, R.J. Rippingale, R.B. Longmore-1998
Aquaculture, 167 (3-4) : 237-245 (Current Contents)
Abstract:
Syngnathids are under increasing pressure through exploitation and habitat degradation. Captive rearing of young marine fish typically requires the supply of essential HUFAs. However, the HUFA requirements of young syngnathids is unknown. First feeding pipefish (Stigmatopora argus) were fed high and low HUFA copepod diets for 21 days. Copepods were fed different microalgal diets to give them either high (Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros gracilis) or low (Dunaliella tertiolecta) HUFA content. No difference in pipefish growth or survival between the two diets was recorded. Overall survival was 99%, indicating that copepods were a suitable diet for juvenile pipefish. The possibility of paternal HUFA investment in the zygotes during brooding is discussed.
(Curtin Univ. Technol., Sch. Environm. Biol., GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia)