The feeding performance of Artemia urmiana nauplii and Daphnia sp in larviculture of Starry Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

The feeding performance of Artemia urmiana nauplii and Daphnia sp in larviculture of Starry Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus)

In this study the use of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii as live food for starting feeding of Starry Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) was investigated. Experiments were performed to determine the exploitation rate of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii by Starry Sturgeon larvae and to determine the best live food at first feeding stage. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Fish larvae in three experimental treatments fed by Artemia nauplii, Daphnia and blend of Daphnia and Artemia having three replicates and were fed based on the 30% of body weight day-1. After a 22-day rearing period, the proximate compositions of samples of fish were determined. The highest level of carcass crude protein (75.68%) and food conversion efficiency (41.13%) were obtained by the larvae receiving mixture of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii. At the end of the experiment, the larvae fed on Artemia nauplii and Daphnia sp showed significantly higher mean weight compared to the other groups. Feeding of the larvae with Artemia urmiana nauplii resulted in a significantly lower carcass crude protein compared with the other treatments. During the experiment, among larvae groups, the maximum survival rate (89.5%) was obtained by the larvae fed on Artemia nauplii. The results of the present study demonstrated that the exploitation ability of Acipenser stellatus larvae in using live food was different and the mixture of Daphnia and Artemia nauplii had almost the best feeding efficiency and they can be introduced as a suitable diet for rearing of Starry sturgeon larvae.

In this study the use of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii as live food for starting feeding of Starry Sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) was investigated. Experiments were performed to determine the exploitation rate of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii by Starry Sturgeon larvae and to determine the best live food at first feeding stage. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design. Fish larvae in three experimental treatments fed by Artemia nauplii, Daphnia and blend of Daphnia and Artemia having three replicates and were fed based on the 30% of body weight day-1. After a 22-day rearing period, the proximate compositions of samples of fish were determined. The highest level of carcass crude protein (75.68%) and food conversion efficiency (41.13%) were obtained by the larvae receiving mixture of Daphnia sp and Artemia urmiana nauplii. At the end of the experiment, the larvae fed on Artemia nauplii and Daphnia sp showed significantly higher mean weight compared to the other groups. Feeding of the larvae with Artemia urmiana nauplii resulted in a significantly lower carcass crude protein compared with the other treatments. During the experiment, among larvae groups, the maximum survival rate (89.5%) was obtained by the larvae fed on Artemia nauplii. The results of the present study demonstrated that the exploitation ability of Acipenser stellatus larvae in using live food was different and the mixture of Daphnia and Artemia nauplii had almost the best feeding efficiency and they can be introduced as a suitable diet for rearing of Starry sturgeon larvae.