Malaysian team evaluates new 'first food'for marine larvae

摘要

For years, the aquaculture industry has relied onArtemia and rotifers to feed the larvae of many cultivated species. However, researchers from Putra University, Malaysia, note that there are often difficulties, not the least of which are fluctuationsin the supply and quality of Artemia cysts, which can adversely affect the hatcheries relying on them. Moreover, both the Artemia and the rotifers are often either too big or too small to be used as first feed for fish larvae, and may not even elicit a feeding response from the larvae they're offered to. As a result, there is great interest in identifying alternative live feeds that will increase larval survival rates of different species. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of copepodsas a food item, even though copepod cultures can be difficult to maintain.