ELECTRONICAL LARVICULTURE NEWSLETTER ISSUE 82

15 JUNE 1999


DEVELOPMENT OF CANNIBALISM IN LARVAL NORTHERN PIKE, ESOX LUCIUS (ESOCIDAE)

D. Kucharczyk, A. Mamcarz, R. Kujawa, A. Skrzypczak-1998

Italian Journal of Zoology, 65 Suppl. S: 261-263 (from Current Contents)

Abstract:

The development of cannibalism of northern pike (Esox lucius) larvae was studied under controlled conditions. Pike larvae were reared in six glass 50-1 aquaria at three stocking densities: 440, 2200 and 4400 larvae per aquarium. Fish were fed ad libitum with Artemia nauplii and sieved zooplankton. After 4, 8 or 12 days of rearing, pike larvae were anaesthetised and measured for total length (TL) and body weight (BW). Lowest survival and fish size were noted at the highest stocking density. The frequency of all cannibalistic attacks decreased in the order: highest > middle > lowest density; the frequency of successful attacks (expressed as the number of injured sibling fish) decreased, however, in opposite order.

(Olsztyn Univ Agr & Technol, Dept Fisheries, PL-10957 Olsztyn- Kortowo, Poland)

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