Effects of Thermocyclops decipiens and Artemia Nauplii for Larval Rearing of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879)

Abstract

This study examines the effects of the freshwater cyclopoid Thermocyclops decipiens and Artemia nauplii on the growth and survival of Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man, 1879) larvae during the rearing phase. M. rosenbergii larvae were divided into three groups and fed exclusively with either Artemia nauplii or T. decipiens, and a mixed diet (50% T. decipiens and 50% Artemia nauplii) in triplicate. The results indicated that M. rosenbergii larvae reached 90% post larvae (PL) on the 23rd day of the mixed diet feeding regime, followed by 88% and 82% PL on the 24th and 26th days when fed with Artemia nauplii and T. decipiens , respectively. The highest length and weight of M. rosenbergii PL were observed in the mixed diet treatment with 14.37±0.51mm and 0.76±0.04mg, respectively. The specific growth rate and percentage weight gain were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the mixed feeding treatment. However, the survival of larvae was highest (69.89±4.55%) in the Artemia nauplii treatment. The larval stage index (LSI) of M. rosenbergii larvae fed on different feeding regimes was mixed diet > Artemia nauplii > T. decipiens. The biochemical constituents of M. rosenbergii PL showed that protein concentration was higher in the larvae fed with T. decipiens, while carbohydrate and lipid content were also high in mixed feeding regimes. Results indicated that the larval stage index and growth parameters of M. rosenbergii larvae were highest in the mixed diet treatment