| Summary: | The feeding ability of turbot ( Scophthalmus maximus ) larvae at 14, 18, and 22°C was studied from day 2 to day 10 post-hatching when feeding on three different types of live prey: two strains of different-sized Brachionus plicatilis as well as A riemia nauplii. The main objective of this investigation was to determine an optimal diet sequence for the early larval rearing. The study was based on the analysis of feeding incidence, gut content, and prey selection. First-feeding was improved by small rotifers (Bs: 122 um width). A preference of the larvae for large rotifiers (Bl- 177 (um width) was found in the following 2d. Larvae were able to ingest Anemia nauplii (AN) by day 4 but digestion was only effective in larvae longer than 4.5 mm (SL). Temperature had a significant influence on feeding incidence and gut content but not on prey selection. This was particularly noticeable at first-feeding and during active feeding on Artemia nauplii. A prey mixture was found to interfere with the feeding performances of small larvae by reducing prey ingestion. Temperatures in the range 18-22°C should be considered for feeding optimization. The following feeding scheme is proposed according to the standard length of the larvae: <4 mm, small rotifers or mixture of small and large rotifiers (<150 um width); 4-4.5 mm, large rotifers (125-200 um width); 4.5-5.5 mm, large rotifers + Artemia nauplii; >5.5 mm, Artemia nauplii (200-250 um width).escription not yet available.
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