Collected reprints: Abstract 2577

Collected reprints

Abstract

Lavens, P.; Coutteau, P.; Sorgeloos, P. (1995). Larval foods. Broodstock management and egg and larval quality 1995: 373-394

Larval ontogeny in fish is characterized by important anatomical and physiological phases with consequent changes in nutrient requirements. Depending on the size of the larva and the specialization of its digestive system at the initiation of exogenous feeding, live food remains an essential requirement for many marine and some freshwater fish species. This paper reviews the latest developments in the selection, production and/or use of the most commonly used live feeds in larviculture, i.e. micro-algae, rotifers, and brine shrimp.

Species-specific dietary requirements are met by application of live food enrichment techniques with selected nutrients. It is very likely that broodstock nutrition and conditioning might influence the nutritional requirements of the larvae, especially at start feeding. Co-feeding and/or early weaning with formulated feeds should allow hatcheries to gradually reduce the live food requirements. Fish larval quality, expressed as its resistance against stress conditions, can also be influenced by the dietary regimes applied in the hatchery.

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