Live and frozen freshwater zooplankton as alternative startfeeding diets for Atlantic salmon in trays

• Main Author: Holm, Jens Christian
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: ICES 1985
• Subjects: feeding; fôring; fish feed production; VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Fisheries science: 920::Resource biology: 921; VDP::Agriculture and fishery disciplines: 900::Fisheries science: 920::Fish health: 923; Atlantic salmon; Salmo salar
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/103935

Six groups of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fry were starfed with frozen Daphnia longispina, standard start food type EWOS or water with natural content of live zooplankton drained from the littoral zone in a coastal lake. In last five days, those fed live zooplankton were given additional food in the form of frozen Daphnia. Dry-fed groups were the only ones to have an overall weight gain but had the lowest activity. Fry fed live zooplankton had the highest activity but the natural species composition of the offer was not optimal for startfeeding. Survival was highest in the group fed frozen Daphnia whose tank had bottom drainage. High yolk absorption rates (implicate early termination of yolk sac) found in live zooplankton groups may be favourable if a net energy gain is achieved due to early feeding on a live prey.