Rainbow trout farm effluent as a potential source of feed and medium for mass culture of Artemia parthenogenetica

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the trout farm effluent (TFE) co-feeding with microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta (MA) on Artemia parthenogenetica biomass production. The feeding regimes were 95% TFE+5% MA, 85% TFE+15% MA, and 75% TFE+25% MA, with different Artemia densities of 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 individuals L−1 in 1-L tanks and 1000 individuals L−1 in 800-L tanks in three replicates in two distinct experiments, comprising 48 experimental units in 1-L tank stage (including four controls fed 0%TFE+100% MA in four densities) and 9 experimental units in 800-L stage. The growth performance and nutritional value of animals were measured on days 8, 11, 14, 17, 20 and 23. The highest growth and survival performance was observed in the treatment containing 75% TFE+25% MA at a density of 250 individuals L−1 (1-L tanks) and 85% TFE+15% MA at a density of 1000 individuals L−1 (800-L tanks). Furthermore, higher protein, carbohydrate, and lipid contents were obtained in the treatment feed 75% TFE+25% MA for both 1-L and 800-L tanks. In the same treatment, significantly higher contents of fatty acids were obtained too. However, the maximum amount for each fatty acids was different based on the different densities. Based on the present result, Artemia parthenogenetica can be cultured successfully using trout farm effluent even with high substitution ratio instead of microalgae as the main feed for Artemia biomass production.