Effect of different algae used for enrichment of rotifers on growth, survival, and swim bladder inflation of larval amberjack Seriola dumerili

Abstract

The effect of algae with different DHA contents used for the enrichment of rotifers on the growth performance, survival, and swim bladder inflation of larval amberjack Seriola dumerili was investigated. Rotifers were enriched with freshwater Chlorella vulgaris containing three levels of DHA (rotifer containing DHA 0.04, 0.60, 1.32 g DHA 100 g−1 DM) and Nannochloropsis (0.04 g DHA 100 g−1 DM; 2.54 g EPA 100 g−1DM). The larvae were fed the enriched rotifers in triplicate from 3 days post-hatch for 7 days in static condition. The same algae used for rotifer enrichment were supplied to the larval tanks. Growth and survival rate of fish fed the rotifers enriched with Nannochloropsis were higher than those of fish fed the rotifers enriched with all three Chlorella treatments. Swim bladder inflation was lowest in fish fed the rotifers enriched with Nannochloropsis. The proportion of EPA was higher in fish fed the rotifers enriched with Nannochloropsis, while that of DHA increased proportionally with the DHA levels in the rotifers enriched with Chlorella. These results suggest that rotifers enriched with Nannochloropsis (EPA-rich rotifers) are effective to enhance growth and survival, but DHA instead of EPA is essential to improve the swim bladder inflation in amberjack larvae.