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The suitability of the free‐living nematode Panagrellus redivivus as live food for first‐feeding fish larvae
Author(s) -
Schlechtriem C.,
Ricci M.,
Focken U.,
Becker K.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of applied ichthyology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.392
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1439-0426
pISSN - 0175-8659
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0426.2004.00542.x
Subject(s) - biology , live food , nematode , cyprinus , larva , common carp , carp , food science , hatchery , fish hatchery , fish farming , zoology , fishery , botany , aquaculture , ecology , fish <actinopterygii>
Summary The free‐living nematode Panagrellus redivivus has been recommended as a suitable food source for first‐feeding fish. A new technology for mass production of P. redivivus enables fish hatchery operators to rely on an inexpensive, standardized and permanently available live food for first‐feeding fish larvae. The proximate composition, and the fatty acid and amino acid profiles of nematodes mass produced on oat‐based and purified ingredient media were determined. The quality of nematodes was significantly influenced by the culture medium used. The lipid content and fatty acid composition of nematodes could be modified by using lipid‐enriched media. Mass‐produced nematodes were tested on first‐feeding common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) and whitefish ( Coregonus lavaretus ) larvae. Carp larvae, grown on nematodes cultured on oat medium enriched with sunflower oil, showed a higher survival rate (87.1%) than the control group fed frozen zooplankton (82.9%) at the end of the 1‐week feeding experiment. Differences in larval mass between the treatments disappeared after subsequent feeding of a dry diet for 2 weeks. Whitefish larvae can be reared exclusively on a dry diet; here, the initial feeding of nematodes had no effect on final biomass and survival of larvae.