Sibling cannibalism in dorada under experimental conditions.

Abstract

Cannibalism among embryos and larvae ofBrycon moorei(Characidae) occurs during daytime and night‐time, and persists under permanent darkness. Embryos and larvae of dorada‐provisioned with formulated feed over the first week of exogenous feeding did not survive, except for those exerting cannibalism. When offered alternative fish prey [embryos ofProchilodus magdalenae(0·5–0·8 mg) andOreochromis niloticus(9–10 mg)], 1‐day‐old embryos of dorada preferred preying on these, thereby reducing early cannibalism. However, this promoted depensatory growth and more intense cannibalism later in the larval stage. Dorada provisioned withArtemianauplii in excess showed more homogeneous growth and higher survival, most cannibalistic acts being restricted to the first 24 h of exogenous feeding, just after oral teeth were fully developed (21 h after hatching). Provisioning dorada withArtemianauplii a few hours before their oral teeth were fully developed reduced early cannibalism from 41 to 15%. High proportions of deformed fish caused higher mortality, both directly and indirectly, as they promoted early cannibalism, depensatory growth and more intense cannibalism among larvae. The initial sorting of embryos, based on their occupation of the water column improved survival significantly during the first week of exogenous feeding, up to 52% in progenies containing <10% of deformed fish. Size‐grading of larvae and young juveniles over the next 2 weeks reduced cannibalism to 2·6 and 1·9% day−, in the first and second weeks, respectively. These results indicate that cannibalism in dorada can be mitigated efficiently through appropriate rearing procedures, and open promising perspectives for the intensive culture of this fast‐growing tropical species.