A comparison of growth rate of halibut larvae (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) fed wild zooplankton and enriched Artemia

Abstract

Halibut larvae at an age of 267 day degrees post hatching, were reared through first feeding, outdoors in 100 l plastic bags. There were three feeding regimes: wild zooplankton, Artemia enriched on the algae Isochrysis galbana and Artemia enriched with "Super Selco". The larval growth was very low the first three weeks probably due to low temperature and high larval age at onset of exogenous feeding. At Day 16 the mean myotome height and dry weight were significantly higher for the group fed wild zooplankton, than for the Artemia groups, and the larvae fed Super Selco enriched Artemia had a significant higher myotome height and dry weight than the larvae fed Isochrysis enriched Artemia. There were no significant differences in larval size at Day 23. The low survivals of the two groups fed Artemia, could have been caused by the incomplete digestion of Artemia.