Culture of Tubifex tubifex: Effect of Feed Type, Ration, Temperature, and Density on Juvenile Recruitment, Production, and Adult Survival

Abstract

AbstractThe oligochaete worm Tubifex tubifex is widely cultured as a fish food. Stocking of certain T. tubifex strains has been shown to help prevent the occurrence or reduce the severity of whirling disease caused by Myxobolus cerebralis. Optimal culture conditions (e.g., temperature, density, and feed type) are not known for T. tubifex. We conducted four experiments to improve our knowledge of culture methods for T. tubifex. First, we evaluated the survival, growth, and recruitment of T. tubifex that were fed one of three different diets. We found that the performance of worms fed cow manure was poor and that growth and recruitment were best when they were fed either a commercial fish‐flake food (Tetramin) or a commercial sinking fish feed containing spirulina Spirulina spp. In the second experiment, we evaluated the performance of worms fed Tetramin at rations of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0% of body mass/d and found the greatest growth and recruitment at the 5.0% and 10.0% rations. In the third experiment, we found high growth and survival among T. tubifex at temperatures between 12°C and 27°C; however, recruitment decreased at temperatures above 21°C. In the final experiment comparing seven initial adult stocking densities (2,675–267,451 individuals/m2), juvenile recruitment and the net increase in biomass were found to be highest at the lowest initial density of 2,675 adults/m2. Recruitment decreased significantly at densities above 6,686 adults/m2.Received June 16, 2010; accepted September 4, 2010