Larval feeding behaviour of angel fish Pterophyllum scalare (Cichlidae) fed copepod Eucyclops serrulatus and cladoceran Ceriodaphnia quadrangula

Three different live diets, Eucyclops serrulatus , Ceriodaphnia quadrangula and equal combination of E. serrulatus copepodid and C. quadrangula, were offered to angelfish ( Pterophyllum scalare ) larvae viz 1‐week, 2‐week and 3‐week old at prey densities of 2, 5 and 10 individuals mL −1 . Results showed that 1‐week‐old P. scalare larvae consumed E .  serrulatus copepodid at a rate of 31.3–56.7 ind. h −1 , C. quadrangula at 8.0–12.0 ind. h −1 , and mixture of E. serrulatus and C. quadrangula at 20.7–40.7 ind. h −1 . For 2‐week‐ and 3‐week‐old larvae, consumption rate increased accordingly. The electivity indices (E) of P. scalare (1‐week‐old larvae) for E. serrulatus copepodid were +0.18, +0.23 and +0.22 at prey densities of 2, 5 and 10 ind. mL −1 respectively. Tendency towards E. serrulatus copepodid consumption reduced by aging P. scalare as indicated by the E values for 2‐ and 3‐week‐old larvae. However, growth and survival of P. scalare larvae was greatest when fed on combination of copepod E. serrulatus and C. quadrangula .