Training Manual on Livefeed culture techniques for Mariculture applications

• Main Authors: Xavier, Biji, Ranjan, Ritesh, Megarajan, Sekhar, Loka, Jayasree, Kizhakudan, Joe K
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute 2023
• Subjects: Aquaculture; Mariculture; Live Feed Culture; Copepods; Rotifer
• Online Access: http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/17839/; http://eprints.cmfri.org.in/17839/1/CMFRI%20Training%20Manual%20Series%20No.%2036_2023_Joe%20Kizhakudan.pdf

Live food organisms include all plants (phytoplankton) and animal (zooplankton) lives grazed upon by economically important fishes. Phytoplanktons are generally eaten by zooplankton. Thus, phytoplankton forms the basis of the food chain. Live foods are able to swim in water column and are constantly available to fish and shellfish larvae are likely to stimulate larval feeding response (David, 2003). In an aquatic ecosystem, these live food organisms constitute the most valuable resource for aquaculture. Most of the fish and shellfish larvae in nature feed on small phytoplanktonic and zooplanktonic organisms. However, natural fish food organisms are usually not abundant in clear pond water, but are abundant in ponds having greenish water. The green color indicates the presence of phytoplankton and other natural food organisms. In the natural food web, zooplankton constitutes a major part of the diet for marine fish larvae and it is generally believed that copepods can meet the nutritional requirements of fish larvae (Evjemo et al., 2003). Breeding, seed production and culture practice for different marine finfish and shellfish species has been initiated several years ago in different parts of the world. But, it has been well established only for limited number of marine finfish and shellfish species with variable success. The major impediment to commercial and successful production of larvae for marine candidate species is the utilization of an appropriate live feed during the first feeding phase of the larval cycle. This period is extremely crucial for the optimal development of marine fish larvae. A live feed with the proper nutritional composition, constituting a suitable size range, and stimulating a feeding response is necessary for large scale production of larvae, and thereby to establish, and expand marine fish culture. At present, the seed production of commercial hatcheries relies on successful supply of live zooplanktons species such as rotifer, copepods and Artemia nauplii during larval stages. It has ...