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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #152338
Title: ROLE OF ZOOPLANKTON IN CATFISH FRY CULTURE: SUMMARY OF NWAC INVESTIGATIONS

Author
item MISCHKE, C - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item WISE, D - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item LI, M - MISS. STATE UNIV.
item Zimba, Paul

Submitted to: Catfish Farmers of America Research Symposium
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/1/2003
Publication Date: 2/15/2003
Citation: Mischke, C.C., Wise, D.E., Li, M.L., Zimba, P.V. 2003. Role of zooplankton in catfish fry culture: summary of nwac investigations. 2003 Catfish Farmers of America Annual Convention and Research Symposium, February 20-22, Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort, Destin, Florida. Page 24, Abstract #19.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Experiments were conducted to answer the following questions: 1) Do catfish fry readily consume zooplankton? 2) If so, are specific zooplankton selected? 3) Within the zooplankton groups consumed, is there size discrimination by fry? 4) What is the nutritional value of zooplankton? 5) Is zooplankton nutritional value affected by fertilization? In the first studies, catfish fry were placed into glass aquaria or cages in ponds an allowed to forage on zooplankton. The zooplankton consumed by fry were compared to available zooplankton in their environments. In general, fry selected the largest zooplankton (copepods, cladocerans, and ostracods) and did not consume rotifers or copepod nauplii. In another study we determined the nutritional value of large zooplankton (500 to 1,000 micrometers) from fertilized and non-fertilized catfish nursery ponds. Samples of zooplankton from each pond were analyzed for proximate nutrients, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, and vitamins. Fertilized and non-fertilized pond zooplankton were similar in nutritional value: only two fatty acids (C16:0 and C20:4 n-6) were significantly (P < 0.05) different between fertilized and non-fertilized ponds. The zooplankton in this study met or exceeded all nutritional requirements of catfish fry; fertilization of these ponds did not affect zooplankton nutritional value with the exception of pantothenic acid and vitamin B6, which were below the catfish fingerling requirement in zooplankton from non-fertilized ponds. Fertilization did increase zooplankton density (catch/hour dry weight: 0.55 g/hour in control vs. 1.607 g/hour in fertilized). Finally, catfish fry in aquaria were fed zooplankton, commercial feed, or both. Catfish fed only zooplankton were similar to catfish fed only commercial feed. However, catfish fed zooplankton in conjunction with commercial feed were longer and heavier than fry in the other treatments.