CYCLOP-EEZE – A TINY CRUSTACEAN WITH BIG
AQUACULTURE APPLICATIONS
Scientists from the Argent Laboratories Group of Companies have succeeded
in efforts to commercialise an organism which is best described as a
Nutraceutical. Cyclop-eeze is of enormous strategic importance to all forms
of aquatic husbandry. In fact, because of the nutritional profile of
Cyclop-eeze, it may be used for many different purposes, such as larval
rearing of Penaeid shrimps, and marine fishes, as a coloration enhancer,
broodstock augmentor, and in general for enhanced survival. More
importantly, it does not only replace the use of very costly Artemia, it
exceeds the performance of even the finest Artemia nauplii, after boosting.
The Cyclop-eeze are a selectively bred crustacean
presenting heretofore unheard of levels of the fundamental biological
pigment Astaxanthin. Levels of 3,000 to 7,500 parts per million of
Astaxanthin are routinely measured in the dried Cyclop-eeze organism. The
vital “omega-3” Highly Unsaturated Fatty Acids, especially
eicosapentanoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linolenic acid,
are found to be at more than 11% each by weight of the organism’s lipid
profile, which amounts to more than 34% of the organism’s weight.
Cyclop-eeze are loaded with the well known attractant “Betaine” and are,
therefore, voraciously consumed when individually fed or compounded into the
diet.
Recent scientific evidence indicates that Cyclop-eeze
manifest several other important traits, namely, that they are rich in
digestive enzymes, thereby assisting various early larval species with
poorly developed protein (protease), carbohydrate (amylase), and lipid
(lipase) digestive enzymes. The net result is superior bio-availability of
essential nutrients for early larval species. There exists a considerable
body of knowledge relating to a derived immunostimulating effect of
Cyclop-eeze feeding that provides enhanced survival in pathogenic bacterial
challenge tests.
Best of all, the costs are about 80% lower than the
current astronomic price of Artemia cysts. Cyclop-eeze provide immense
savings not only in money, but also in labor, as no cumbersome hatching is
required.
In fact, Cyclop-eeze in either the deep frozen or
“lyophilised” (freeze-dried) form, not only replace freshly hatched
Artemia nauplii, but also exceed them in terms of nutrition, survival,
growth rate, and acceptance.
Cyclop-eeze, as a selectively bred micro-crustacean
is derived from a very special species of Copepoda. The new organism
presents with a veritable “arsenal” of foundation nutrients. Cyclop-eeze
act as a vector projecting heretofore
unattainable levels of Astaxanthin and critical omega –3 HUFA’s in a
very palatable presentation for the culture of marine and freshwater
shrimps, edible and ornamental fishes, and most other aquatic organisms
under cultivation.
(excerpts from article by E. Lieberman in Aquaculture
Asia, Vol. VI, No. 2, April-June 2001)