Effects of feeding with microparticulate diet instead of artemia on survival and growth rates in sea bass (dicentrarchus labrax) larvae

In this study, the effect of microparticulate feed on growth and survival rate of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae was determined instead of artemia.. According to the feeding regime applied to sea bass larvae for 40 days; control (rotifera + artemia nauplii + metanauplii), group I (rotifera + Artemia nauplii + Gemma 150 + Gemma 300) and group II (rotifera + Gemma 75 + Gemma 150 + Gemma 300) were designed. According to the feeding regime, significant differences were found in the growth and survival rate of larvae. The highest weight gain in the larvae was 31.73 ± 1.04 mg in the control group and the lowest weight gain was found as 8.35 ± 0.83 mg in the group II using Gemma75 instead of artemia. In the experiments, the weight specific growth rate in the larvae was highest in the 20-30 days in the control group of 14,53±0,67. However, the values of the specific growth rate in 30-40 days were statistically similar to the control group and group I, while group II was statistically different. The mean length values of larvae showed significant differences on the 40th day. The highest lenght increase in the larva was 17,51±0,28 mm in the control group and the lowest lenght increase was 11,66 ± 0,17 mm in the group II. At the end of 40 days according to the feeding regimen applied in the trials, the difference between the survival rates and the control group and group I were not statistically significant. The lowest survival rate was found in group II and the highest rate was found as 65.59 ± 10.63% in the control group.