Optimization of Indoor Production of Fresh Water Rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus): A Preliminary Study

Recently rotifer culture projects were undertaken at selected places in Punjab province. Rotifers are fed on Chlorella vulgaris ad libitum and exact algal requirements are not cared for which increases the production cost of rotifers. Therefore in the current studies, algal cell requirement of Brachionus calyciflorus was determined for its cost effective production and utilization of data acquired in similar studies or in commercial applications. Required number of rotifers were withdrawn from the main stock, divided into three groups and fed on known number of laboratory grown C. vulgaris. Left over cells were counted after 24 h in all the three groups and their ingestion and filtration rates were determined. Algal cell requirements of B. calyciflorus were therefore determined which came out 32977 to 35540 cells/rotifer/day. In the second trial rotifers were cultured in cow-dung media with or without supplemental aeration. Jars aerated for 24 h produced highest rotifer density (350/mL), while those with 12 h aeration ranked second and those without aeration even could not support hatching of cysts. In the third trial effect of type and size of container on rotifer production was determined. Significantly higher rotifer density was observed in jars (380 rotifers/mL) compared with flasks (174/mL). The fourth trial was meant to determine the effect of culture duration on rotifer density. Highest number (135 rotifers/mL) was observed after 15 days of inoculation, the rotifers then started to decline and were 115/mL after 26 days of inoculation. © 2010 Friends Science Publishers