Premium
Feeding sequences (rotifer and dry diet), survival, growth and biochemical composition of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell (Pisces: Clariidae), larvae
Author(s) -
Awaïss A,
Kestemont P
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2109.1998.29100731.x
Subject(s) - biology , clarias gariepinus , rotifer , catfish , brachionus , brachionus calyciflorus , zoology , live food , polyunsaturated fatty acid , larva , fatty acid , food science , ecology , fishery , aquaculture , fish <actinopterygii> , biochemistry
The suitability of the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus as starting food for the larviculture of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell, was investigated through studies of growth and fatty acid profiles in relation to different feeding sequences combining live food and dry diet in various proportions and during different mixed feeding periods. The best results for survival were observed when rotifers were supplied during the first week of feeding, i.e. sequences R 2 (exclusive supply of rotifers, then dry diet from day 8, onwards) and R 5 (50% rotifers+50% dry diet until day 7, then dry diet 100%), reaching 99.2% and 96.3%, respectively. The specific growth rate of larvae was largely dependent on the duration of preliminary feeding with the rotifers. A feeding with rotifers as a unique food source did not produce satisfactory growth during the first week of feeding. A precocious weaning showed that the highest growth rate and protein efficiency ratio (PER) can be obtained by feeding the larvae rotifers in association with a dry diet. The best PER and protein productive value (PPV) were recorded with feeding sequences R 2 and R 5 . On the other hand, the series of polyunsaturated fatty acids was characterized by a relatively constant concentrations, and represented about 11.6% of the total fatty acids in sequence R 2 because of the presence of the acids of the linoleic series, which apparently originated from the food. The R 5 regime provided larvae with significant amounts of highly unsaturated fatty acids, such as linolenic acid C18:3n‐3.