Abstract
Replicated groups of Atlantic cod were rearedfor up to 40 days in 100 l tanks stocked at adensity of 75 eggs l−1. Larvae weretransferred from rotifers, Brachionusplicatilis, to either fresh-hatched orenriched Artemia nauplii on each of days5, 15 and 25 post-hatch (ph). Rotifers wereprogressively withdrawn over a 5 day period.The type of Artemia offered(fresh-hatched, enriched) did not affectsurvival or growth rates at any of the 3transfer ages. Larvae transferred toArtemia from day 5 ph suffered a highincidence of swimbladder over-inflation andhigh mortality during metamorphosis (< 1%survival to day 36 ph). Cod in the day 15 and day25 transfer groups did not differ significantlyin weight-specific growth rate or size on day40 ph (mean standard length 13.8 mm, dry weight3.8 mg). Highest mean survival rates to day 40ph (18.1%) and lowest mortality followingtransfer to nursery tanks were also observed inthe day 25 transfer groups. Fish that receivedArtemia from day 5 ph containedcirca twice as much total lipid per unit bodyweight and had a 30% higher triacylglycerol(TAG) content compared to all other groups.Ratios of the essential fatty acidsdocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) alsodiffered according to age-at-transition.DHA:EPA ratio exceeded 1 only in codtransferred to Artemia on day 25 ph.Based on these findings, it is recommended thatintensively reared Atlantic cod should continueto receive rotifers until completion ofmetamorphosis.
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Shields, R., Irwin, S., Smith, P. et al. Effects of diet transition regimen on survival, growth and lipid composition of intensively reared Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, larvae. Aquaculture International 11, 119–130 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024120301031
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024120301031