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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #233098
Title: Efficient and reliable protocols for the production of live feeds for larval Florida pompano

Author
item MEGHAN, ANDERSON - HBOI-FAU
item Weirich, Charles
item CAVALIN, FERNANDO - HBOI-FAU

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/9/2008
Publication Date: 2/1/2009
Citation: Meghan, A.L., Weirich, C.R., Cavalin, F.G. 2009. Efficient and reliable protocols for the production of live feeds for larval Florida pompano [abstract]. Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America. p.13.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: As is the case with most marine finfish species, production of live feed organisms represents the majority of time and labor associated with larviculture operations. As a byproduct of establishing a reproduction and larviculture research program at our facility, procedures for the production and enrichment of rotifers and Artemia for the successful rearing of larval Florida pompano have been improved and streamlined. Our established live feeds culture protocols are efficient, reliable, and easily support both research and commercial-scale larviculture of this species. Rotifers are batch cultured using a series of four fiberglass tanks containing 125 L of water. Water temperature and salinity are maintained at 27-28 C and 20-25 g/L, respectively. Each tank is supplied with gentle blown air aeration at four points with a one point source of pure oxygen to maintain dissolved oxygen above 100% saturation. Rotifers in each culture tank are fed concentrated Nannochloropsis paste via peristaltic pump every 4 h. Culture Selco (c) is fed to each tank at 1000 and 2200 hours. One tank is harvested daily (three days after stocking). Rotifer density at harvest ranges from 700-1,000 rotifers/ml. Once enumerated, rinsed rotifers are restocked into another tank containing sterilized water at a rate of 250 rotifers/ml. Enrichment occurs in buckets containing a final volume of 15 L (salinity = 28-32 g/L). Rotifers are stocked to achieve a density of 1,500 rotifers/ml. Buckets receive blown air and pure oxygen to maintain dissolved oxygen levels above 100% saturation. The enrichment diet (Ori-Green) is then applied and rotifers are allowed to feed for 3 h at a temperature of 26-27 C. Once enrichment is completed, rotifers are rinsed to remove residual enrichment diet and are placed into a clean bucket containing a final volume of 15 L. Ice bottles are then added as needed to lower the temperature to 10 C over a two hour period. Buckets are then placed in a refrigerated cooler (with ports for blown air aeration) for cold storage up to 24 h at 5-10 C. Artemia cysts are decapsulated on site using standard procedures and cysts are stored at 0-3 C in a hypersaline solution until needed. Hatching occurs in two fiberglass tanks containing 175 L of sterilized water. Water temperature and salinity are maintained at 30 C and 28-32 g/L, respectively. Each tank is supplied with vigorous blown air aeration and pure oxygen to maintain dissolved oxygen above 100% saturation. Prior to the addition of cysts, a disinfectant (Sanocare (c), sodium bicarbonate, and an antifoaming agent are added. Hatching is complete in 12-14 h with typical harvest amounts of 50-90 million 1st instar nauplii, which are then rinsed and cold stored (at a density not exceeding 2,500 Artemia/ml) as described for rotifers or they are stocked at a rate not exceeding 300 Artemia/ml into one of two available 175 L enrichment tanks containing sterilized water (temperature = 26 C, salinity = 28-32 g/L). Artemia are enriched for 20 h with the addition of equal amounts of DC DHA Selco (c) at T0 and T10. Harvested enriched 2nd instar nauplii are then rinsed thoroughly and cold stored at a density not exceeding 2,500 Artemia/ml.