| Summary: | A series of five trials were conducted with an aim to evaluate the effects of different feeding regimes on the growth performance and survival of mahimahi and cobia larvae. The five feeding regimes were (1) delayed first feeding to mahimahi larvae, (2) rotifer and probiotic inclusions in live feeding regimes as practiced by industry on mahimahi larvae, (3) delayed first feeding to cobia larvae (4) copepods, Artemia and probiotic inclusions in live feeding regimes on cobia larvae, and (5) early weaning of cobia larvae to microdiets.Delayed first feeding for 0, 1, 2, 3 days and totally starved mahimahi larvae as well as delayed first feeding for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 days and totally starved cobia larvae significantly influenced (P<0.05) the first feeding response, growth performance and survival of mahimahi and cobia larvae. Mahimahi and cobia larvae withstood starvation and maintained their high first feeding response for 2 and 3 days, respectively, after the day the yolk-sac was exhausted (2 day post hatch (DPH)), but the first feeding response significantly decreased (P<0.05) at the later stages. Delayed first feeding negatively affected the larval survival of both mahimahi and cobia larvae after 7 and 6 DPH, respectively. Negative influences in both larval species were also found in the growth performances in terms of length, wet weight, specific growth rate length and weight (SGRL and SGRW), head height, width, eye diameter, mouth depth and mouth width after 7 DPH. However, no influence on mahimahi and cobia larvae was observed when these larvae were fed 0 and 1 day delayed first feeding, except in cobia larval survival after 9 DPH (P>0.05).Provision of rotifers, enriched Artemia, and the combination of rotifers and enriched Artemia as the first feeding and Sanolife Mic probiotics added to water did not influence (P>0.05) the growth performance (length, wet weight, SGRL and SGRW), body indices (Head weight index and dry matter content) and survival of mahimahi larvae during the first 28 DPH. At 28 DPH, ...
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