ARS | Publication request: Sunshine bass fingerling production without rotifers

Submitted to: Book of Abstracts Aquaculture America
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 10, 2007
Publication Date: February 9, 2008
Citation: Ludwig, G.M., Lochmann, S. 2008. Sunshine bass fingerling production without rotifers [abstract]. 2008 Aquaculture America: Book of Abstracts, February 9-12, 2008, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. p.225. 2008 CDROM.

Technical Abstract: Previously reported protocol for culture of sunshine bass larvae to fingerling size in tanks involved an initial feeding of rotifers for several days before the larvae are weaned to feed on Artemia nauplii. Maintaining rotifer cultures requires space, time, equipment, supplies, trained culturists and the cultures are often unstable. Elimination of the use of rotifers would greatly enhance the feasibility of reliable tank culture of fingerlings and should reduce its cost. This experiment was comprised of three treatments with three replicates per treatment: larvae fed standard size Artemia nauplii (0.48 mm X 0.19 mm), larvae fed microcyst Artemia nauplii (0.43 mm X 0.18 mm), and larvae fed rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) (0.26 mm X 0.16mm) and weaned to standard size Artemia nauplii by 11 days post hatch (dph). Sunshine bass larvae, 4 dph, were stocked into 100 L tanks at 75 larvae/L. The initial daily feeding rates were 20 rotifers or nauplii/mL. That was increased to 20/mL, twice/d at 5 dph and then changed to 10/ml, twice/d at 6dph. The experiment lasted until 14 dph. At 14 dph, 4.3 % of the larvae fed only standard Artemia nauplii survived while significantly more, 43.0%, of those fed microcyst Artemia nauplii and 93.6% of those receiving rotifers and standard Artemia nauplii survived. At 14 dph, average standard lengths (7.26 mm) of larvae fed microcysts or rotifers and standard Artemia nauplii (7.13 mm) were both significantly longer than that of larvae receiving standard Artemia nauplii (6.86 mm). During previous experiments, larvae that were not fed had 0% to 0.01% survival by the end of 11 dph. This experiment is the first time that sunshine bass have been cultured to 14 dph while being fed Artemia nauplii but without being fed rotifers.