Experimental Studies of Feeding in Larval Red Drum

• Published in: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
• Main Author: Holt, G. Joan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 1992
• Subjects: Red drum; Sciaenops ocellatus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-7345.1992.tb00789.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1749-7345.1992.tb00789.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1749-7345.1992.tb00789.x

Abstract The red drum ( Sciaenops ocellatus ) is the only marine fish species in commercial culture in the US. Red drum can be induced to spawn on demand at any time of the year and the young grown to marketable size in indoor raceways or in ponds. Although many eggs are produced (up to 1 million per spawning pair), grow‐out through the larval stage remains a bottleneck in commercial production. Most larvae for commercial use are grown in outdoor ponds where natural blooms of phytoplankton and zooplankton are induced, but pond production is limited seasonally and geographically since red drum larvae require sea water and are intolerant of temperatures below 20 C. It is possible to raise larvae indoors in tanks year‐round by controlling temperature and salinity and by culturing live food, but not in sufficient number to supply commercial fish growers. Experimental studies are being carried out to modify the feeding and rearing systems to improve production of post‐larvae. Of utmost importance is the development of a complete diet independent of live foods. Results of studies of highly unsaturated fatty acid requirements, digestive system development and activity levels of digestive enzymes are being incorporated into the development of an improved diet for red drum larvae.