Food intake of Macrobrachium
rosenbergii during larval development
H.
Pereira de Barros, W. Cotroni Valenti-2003
Aquaculture, 216(1-4): 165-176
Abstract:
This work investigates the acceptance of different
food types and sizes by Macrobrachium rosenbergii during each larval
stage. Food intake of dry and wet formulated diets of four different size
classes (250–425, 425–710, 710–1000 and 1000–1190 µm), as well as Artemia
nauplii, was determined. Larvae of each zoeal stage were stocked in beakers
and fed ad libitum. After 30–45 min, the digestive tract of each larva was
observed under a stereomicroscope. Acceptance was evaluated by food intake
frequency (FFI). There was no significant interaction (P<0.05)
between inert diet size and FFI for each larval stage. Therefore, food
intake during larval development is independent of food particle size. The
ingestion of Artemia nauplii was significantly higher by larvae
between stages II and VI. Between stages VII and XI, FFI for Artemia
nauplii and wet diet was similar, while the FFI of the dry diet was similar
to live food between stages IX and XI. The wet diet was ingested by more
than 50% of the larvae only from stage VII onwards, while the dry diet from
stage VIII onwards. These results indicate that larvae could be fed Artemia
nauplii only until stage VI. Diet supplementation should start from stage
VII onwards, using food particles varying from 250 to 1190 µm.
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