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

J. Appl. Ichthyol., 19: 123-125

Abstract:

Little is known about the larviculture of 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 of Forestry and Game Management, Ministry of the Flemish Community, Dwersbos 28, B-1630 Linkebeek, Belgium, e-mail: alireza.shiriharzevili@lin.vlaanderen.be)


home