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Title: TANK CULTURE OF SUNSHINE BASS MORONE CHRYSOPS X M. SAXATILIS, FINGERLINGS WITH THREE CONCENTRATIONS OF ROTIFERS AND ARTEMIA NAUPLIS

Author
item Ludwig, Gerald

Submitted to: World Aquaculture Society Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/3/2003
Publication Date: 5/3/2003
Citation: Ludwig, G.M. 2003. Tank culture of sunshine bass morone chrysops x m. saxatilis, fingerlings with three concentrations of rotifers and artemia nauplis. [abstract] World Aquaculture Society Meeting. p.160.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Sunshine bass Morone chrysops X m. saxatilis fry are obligate zooplankton consumers. They begin to eat rotifers at 4 days post hatch but soon switch to larger zooplankton. For tank culture, the rotifer Brachionus plicatus appears to be a suitable first food. Within a few days the fry may be switched to brine shrimp nauplii and then weaned to artificial prepared feeds by 28 days post hatch. Feeding rates of rotifers and brine shrimp nauplii to maximize fry growth have not been determined. In this experiment three concentrations of rotifers and then three concentrations of Artemia nauplii were presented to the fry before they were weaned to manufactured feed. The experiment started when fry that were 4 days old and approximately 4.5 mm average total length were stocked into 100 liters of water at 75 fry per liter. Three tanks were assigned to each feeding treatment. Water was aerated and had a salinity of 2-7 ppt. Each day ¾ of the water was replaced. For the first 4 days only rotifers were fed. Four times each day rotifers were fed at the rate of 5, 10, or 15 per ml. Rotifers for the second two feedings were enriched with Super Selco. From day 5 through day 9 freshly hatched Artemia nauplii were also added to the tanks at the rate of 1, 1.5 and 2 per ml. twice per day. From day 10 through day 12 only Artemia were fed at the same rates three times per day. Starting day 12 a microencapsulated (150-200 µm and later 200-250µm) feed was fed 10 times per day. Tanks were harvested when fry were 28 days post hatch. Mean survival rates were 22.4, 35.3 and 52.9% for the low, medium and high feeding rates respectively. Mean total lengths and weights of fingerlings are being determined for each treatment.