Reducing Artemia use
in the culture of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)
C.
Callan, A. Jordaan, L.J. Kling-2003
Aquaculture, 219(4): 585-595
Abstract:
The acquisition and production of Artemia for
the feeding of larval marine fish can constitute a significant portion of
total fry culturing costs. The availability and price of Artemia can
vary widely from year to year and, recently, Artemia cysts attained
record high prices. This experiment was conducted to examine early weaning
of cod (Gadus morhua) larvae followed by supplementing
microparticulate diet (MPD) with reduced Artemia rations. The
objective was to determine whether Artemia use could be minimized
while maintaining high growth and survival through supplementation of the
MPD diet. Eggs were volumetrically counted to achieve a stocking density of
75 larvae l-1. The experiment consisted of a control group (100%
A), which was fed live food during the experimental period, and three
experimental treatments. All treatments were run in triplicate. The three
experimental treatments received MPD and 50% of the amount Artemia in
the 100% A treatment (50% A), MPD and 25% of the amount Artemia in
the 100% A treatment (25% A), and MPD only (MPD). Standard lengths and dry
weights were collected at hatch, 8, 22, 36, 50 and 64 days post-hatch (dph).
Survival was calculated by counting all remaining fish at the conclusion of
the experiment. The results indicate that the 100% A, 50% A and 25% A
treatments did not differ significantly in standard length, dry weight,
specific growth rate or survival. The MPD treatment had lower growth and
survival than any of the treatments receiving Artemia. This study
supports that, when Artemia prices are high (>US$50/kg),
significant savings are possible for marine larval fish culture by using
co-feeding strategies similar to those presented here.
(School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, 5763
Rogers Hall, Orono, ME 04469-5763, USA, e-mail of C. Callan:
Chatham.Callan@umit.maine.edu,
e-mail of A. Jordaan: Adrian.Jordaan@umit.maine.edu,
e-mail of L.J. Kling: Lkling@maine.edu)