Short
communication
Larval rearing
of chub, Leuciscus cephalus (L.), using decapsulated Artemia as
direct food
A. Shiri Harzevili, D. De Charleroy, J.
Auwerx, I. Vught, J. Van Slycken-2003
Journal of the Applied Ichthyology, 19(2):
123
Abstract:
Little is known about the larviculture of
the chub, Leuciscus cephalus (L.), an endangered cyprinid species
endemic to European flowing waters. The use of decapsulated Artemia
cysts as food for chub larviculture was investigated. After 3-day feeding
with the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus, the larvae were fed on
different diets: (i) dried decapsulated Artemia cysts, (ii) Artemia
nauplii, (iii) rotifers for seven more days and then Daphnia
collected from a pond, and (iv) an artificial diet. After a 24-day rearing
period, the highest survival rate was obtained with the larvae receiving
decapsulated Artemia cysts. Feeding of the larvae with an artificial
diet resulted in a significantly lower survival rate compared with the other
groups. At the end of the experiment, the larvae fed on Artemia
nauplii yielded a significantly higher mean length compared with the other
groups. Feeding an artificial diet resulted in a significantly lower average
weight and mean length gain compared with the other groups.
(Fish Culture Centre, Institute for Forestry and Game
Management, Ministry of the Flemish Community, Linkebeek, Belgium)