Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance

• DOI: 10.3389/faquc.2024.1310429
• Publication Date: 2024-02-13T04:32:13Z
• Authors: Prince Ofori-Darkwah; Daniel Adjei-Boateng; Regina Esi Edziyie; Nelson Winston Agbo; Ivar Lund
• Keywords: Yolk; Broodstock; Aquaculture; Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Endocrinology; hatching; Importance and Conservation of Freshwater Biodiversity; Rotifer; Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling; Pathology; Internal medicine; Ecology; Metabolism and Nutrition in Aquaculture Feeds; Life Sciences; Brachionus; Breed; Length-Weight Relationships of Fish Species; Artemia salina; FOS: Philosophy, ethics and religion; Larva; Physical Sciences; Ontogeny; Medicine; Anatomy; Live food; rotifer and larval survival; SH1-691; Aquatic Science; Hatchery; Hatching; Tongue; Genetics; Biology; Heterotis niloticus; Nature and Landscape Conservation; Nutrition; yolk sac; Metamorphosis; Toxicity; Linguistics; Philosophy; Fish; Fishery; FOS: Biological sciences; Environmental Science; FOS: Languages and literature; Artemia; Zoology; Animal science; Biogeography and Conservation of Neotropical Freshwater Fishes

High larval and fry mortality has been a major challenge to the commercial culture of African bony-tongue ( Heterotis niloticus ). Research indicates inadequate feeding be possible cause high rates larvae/fry grown in captivity. An experiment was conducted first describe developmental stages H. eggs larvae until schooling, 6 days after hatching (DAH), at 26°C. The morphological development, survival, growth (weight gain length), swimming behavior were monitored. A follow-up trial with from 27 DAH involving four treatments: Artemia nauplii; combined feed 50% nauplii rotifers (w/w); rotifers; no feeding. activities three digestive enzymes (trypsin, lipase, amylase) assessed exposed live treatments. At hatching, had large, vascularized yolk sac filled platelets, which occupied approximately one-third total body length abdominal cavity. Yolk platelet reabsorption started 1 complete DAH. Metamorphosis completed DAH, schooling observed. For trial, that received underwent fastest development Similarly, survival rate considerably higher fed than those combination or only rotifers. Overall, for co-fed 72.7% ± 0.9% 41.2% 3.3%, respectively. Fry did not survive rotifer-fed unfed treatment groups. Digestive enzyme activity differed significantly p < 0.05) between treatments sampling dates. All detectable onset mouth opening (5 DAH) fluctuated through 7 9 Lower observed when subjected starvation rotifer treatment. Results indicate is best organism larviculture.