**4.6 Acceptance of micro-diets by larval marine fish**

Production of marine fish juveniles in commercial hatcheries still depends on the supply of live prey, such as rotifers and *Artemia*. Artificial micro-diet substitution for live prey is crucial to lower production costs and sustain production of high and constant quality juveniles (Cahu & Zambino-Infante, 2001). The use of micro-diets for common snook larvae during the pre-weaning period was also tested. Since the first rearing of plaice (*Pleuronectes platessa*) larvae to metamorphosis using an artificial diets (Adron *et al.*, 1974), many trials have been conducted, with different degrees of success, to utilize artificial diets in larval rearing of species, such as seabass *Dicentrarchus labrax* (Gatesoupe *et al.*, 1977; Cahu & Infante, 1994; Kolkovski *et al.*, 1997), sole *Solea vulgaris* (Gatesoupe *et al.*, 1977), Atlantic silverside *Menidia menidia* (Seidel *et al.*, 1980), red seabream *Chrysophrys major* and Ayu *Plecoglossus altivelis* (Kanazawa *et al.*, 1982). In all cases, poor results were obtained when live food was replaced completely by micro-diets. However, during the last decade, the preweaning period has been greatly reduced in many species, such as European sea bass *Dicentrarchus labrax* (Person Le Ruyet *et al*., 1993, Zambonino-Infante *et al*. 1997). Cahu *et al*., (1998) reported that 35% of European sea bass larvae were fed exclusively compound diet from mouth opening. In other marine species, some survival was obtained when fed compound diet from mouth opening, such as sea bream *Sparus aurata (*Fernandez-Diaz & Yufera, 1997) and red sea-bream *Pagrus major* (Takeuchi *et al*., 1998).

Common snook larvae were offered two sizes of micro-diets (100µm, 150µm) and rotifers for 7 days, from 2 to 9 DAH. Although there was higher percentage of larvae with food in their stomachs in tanks fed SS type rotifers, a significant number of larvae offered micro-diet had food in their stomachs. These results were observed in pike-perch (Ostaszewska *et al*., 2005), where micro-diets were readily accepted, digested and absorbed as well as in the Japanese eel (Pedersen *et al*., 2003), and the gilthead sea-bream (Salhi *et al*., 1997). Earlier studies suggested that co-feeding with live food improved yellow perch growth and assimilation of artificial diets (Kolkovski *et al*.,1997), a method that could be applied to common snook, assuming that digestive enzymes of live food organisms supported digestive processes in fish larvae (Boulhic & Gabaudan 1992; Jones *et al*., 1993). However, some publications have reported contradictory results (Cahu & Zambino-Infante, 1997; Kolkovski *et al*., 1993). Future research on micro-diets is needed to evaluate the effect on survival or growth. Results indicate that snook larvae seem to accept the artificial diet and based on the already mentioned literature findings on several marine larval species survival and growth, it appears that the common snook larvae pre-weaning period could be reduced.

## **5. Conclusions**

Although common snook larval survival has improved, mortality is still high and more improvements in rearing techniques are needed to increase survival. Many factors could be responsible for the low survival rates observed, including the introduction of bacteria along with the live food (i.e., rotifers). Rotifers are major carriers of bacteria (Muroga and Yasunobu, 1987; Munro *et al*., 1993, 1994). Studies to evaluate the effect of bacteria on snook larval culture may help the overall survival. In these trials, two different experimental tank sizes were used (2 L and 6 L tanks) and survival was better in the larger tanks. More research is needed to determine the optimal tank size to examine growth and survival in larval snook. After four years of research on the snook larval rearing techniques, positive improvements have been made and the critical bottlenecks and potential solutions have been identified. Findings such as optimal rearing temperature (28°C), appropriate flow and water management (green technique) are basic for future research. Other critical results were: finding appropriate prey size (SS rotifers and copepods), optimal stocking and prey densities and the acceptance of microdiets prior to weaning.

#### **6. Acknowledgements**

This work was supported by grants from the Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University, the Florida Fish and Wildlife

Conservation Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded research consortium, the Science Consortium for Ocean Replenishment (SCORE), and the Mote Scientific Foundation. Special thanks to the Center for Aquaculture Research and Development at Mote Marine Laboratory staff, especially to Nicole Rhody, Michael Nystrom and Dave Jenkins for their support and help through this four year research effort.

#### **7. References**


Future research on micro-diets is needed to evaluate the effect on survival or growth. Results indicate that snook larvae seem to accept the artificial diet and based on the already mentioned literature findings on several marine larval species survival and growth, it

Although common snook larval survival has improved, mortality is still high and more improvements in rearing techniques are needed to increase survival. Many factors could be responsible for the low survival rates observed, including the introduction of bacteria along with the live food (i.e., rotifers). Rotifers are major carriers of bacteria (Muroga and Yasunobu, 1987; Munro *et al*., 1993, 1994). Studies to evaluate the effect of bacteria on snook larval culture may help the overall survival. In these trials, two different experimental tank sizes were used (2 L and 6 L tanks) and survival was better in the larger tanks. More research is needed to determine the optimal tank size to examine growth and survival in larval snook. After four years of research on the snook larval rearing techniques, positive improvements have been made and the critical bottlenecks and potential solutions have been identified. Findings such as optimal rearing temperature (28°C), appropriate flow and water management (green technique) are basic for future research. Other critical results were: finding appropriate prey size (SS rotifers and copepods), optimal stocking and prey

This work was supported by grants from the Institute of Aquaculture at Stirling University,

Conservation Commission, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration funded research consortium, the Science Consortium for Ocean Replenishment (SCORE), and the Mote Scientific Foundation. Special thanks to the Center for Aquaculture Research and Development at Mote Marine Laboratory staff, especially to Nicole Rhody, Michael Nystrom and Dave Jenkins for their support and help through this four year research effort.

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