Effect of different water exchange on initial feeding inci­dence of D3-D10 old larvae of humpback grouper (GRIMC)


The rearing of humpback grouper larvae was conducted in 9 polycarbonate tanks, 200 litre volume, and filled with sea wa­ter with the salinity of 34 ppt. Ten fertilized eggs per liter were stocked in each tank. Started at day-3, the larvae were fed SS-type rotifers with the density of 5 ind/ml.

During the D-3 to D-10 rearing period, larvae were reared at different water exchange as treatment in, i.e. A: without water exchange, B: 100 % water exchange, and C: 200 % water exchange. Three replicates were set for each treatment. Development of larvae in each tank was observed every day. Stomach content and total length of larvae were observed every two days.

Results of the experiment showed that growth of hump­back grouper larvae in all treatments was not significant dif­ferent (P>0.05). Total length of the larvae in treatments A, B, and C were 3.72 ± 0.08, 3.60 ± 0.10, and 3.57 ± 0.18 mm, respectively. Survival rate of larvae at day-10 for treatment A, B, and C were 38.1 ± 12.7, 24.8 ± 8.3, and 20.2 ± 8.3 %, but these survival values of larvae were not significant different (P<0.05). The number of rotifers in the gut of larvae during the day-3 to day-8 rearing period were 1.8-20.2, 1.8-13.2, and 1.8-15 individuals for treatment A, B, and C, respectively.

(from Grouper Research Briefs in Aquaculture Asia, Vol. VI, No. 2, April-June 2001)


home