Culture experiments with a freshwater cladoceran, Ceriodaphnia quadrangula (O. F. Müller, 1785), as suitable live food for mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus günther 1862) larvae

Effects of five different diets of green microalgae, Scenedesmus quadricauda (S), poultry manure (P), cattle manure (C), and two mixed diet of P+C (PC) and S+P+C (SPC); and interaction effects of water temperature (20, 25, 30°C) and photoperiod (24:0, 0:24, and 12:12, hours light: hours dark) on production and growth of Ceriodaphnia quadrangula were examined separately. Then, mass cultiva¬tion of C. quadrangula and its application for rearing of an ornamental fish larva, Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) were carried out. Results showed that mean population density and specific growth rate (SGR) of C. quadrangula obtained 0.15-3.70 ind. mL-1 (150-3700 ind. mL-1) and 0.019-0.18 day-1, respectively, maximum with S diet and minimum with C diet. The better mean population density and SGR for C. quadrangula determined at interactions 25 ºC with 24:0 and 12: 12, L:D, respectively, which was significantly higher than that at interactions 20 ºC and 30 ºC. Nutritional analyses showed that protein and lipid contents of C. quadrangula were 54% and 12.3% dry weight, respectively. The fatty acid contents of C. quadrangula were 27.3% and 63.7% of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, respectively. Among PUFAs (Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids) content, 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3 were in highest level. Early cichlid larvae (5-weeks-old, 15.8 mm length and 110 mg weight) and advanced larvae (10-weeks-old, 25.6 mm length and 240 mg weight) consumed C. quadrangula at range 220–584 ind. day-1 larvae-1 and 528–1956 ind. day-1 larvae-1, respectively, as well as suitable growth and survival rate. This study demonstrated that C. quadrangula could be used as live feed purposes for larval rearing in aquaculture.

Freshwater zooplankton, diet, temperature and photoperiod, fatty acid, Mayan cichlid larvae, ornamental fish larvae, ingestion rate