Feed management and stocking density for larviculture of the Amazon ornamental fish L333 king tiger pleco Hypancistrus sp. (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)

The study tested the use of Artemia salina nauplii as first exogenous feeding in the larviculture of Hypancistrus sp. Moreover, we aimed to assess the quantity of prey concentrations and the stocking density during the first 30 days of feeding. Experiment I: larvae were fed with four initial prey concentrations, T-100: 100, T-200: 200, T-300: 300 and T-400: 400 A. salina nauplii/larvae/day. The quantity of A. salina nauplii increased every six days to adequate the larval growth. Experiment II: larvae were kept at four stocking densities, 1, 5, 10 and 15 larvae/L. In both experiments, the A. salina nauplii were consumed with success for the larvae. Best larvae growth and survival were observed with T-400 in comparison to T-100. In the Experiment II, the stocking density of 15 larvae/L showed higher ammonia (1.23 mg/L) and reduction of larvae growth and dissolved oxygen concentration (5.7 mg/L). The densities of 1 and 5 larvae/L provided the best results for growth. The stocking densities showed no differences for survival. Thus, we recommend the use of A. salina nauplii in the first feeding for larvae of Hypancistrus sp., at the initial prey concentration of 400 nauplii/larvae/day and stocking density of 5 larvae/L.

Automated summary

The study confirmed the feasibility of using Artemia salina nauplii as the first exogenous feeding in the larviculture of Hypancistrus sp., and recommended the initial daily concentration of 400 nauplii/L and a stocking density of 5 larvae/L for optimal growth.