The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of the harpacticoid copepod
Tisbe spp as prey
in Amphiprion clarkii larviculture. After hatch
ing,
A. clarkii larvae were divided
in four experimental groups for feed
ing studies as follows: group A (control group) fed rotifers (
Brachionus plicatilis) followed by
Artemia nauplii; group B fed a mixed diet of rotifers and
Tisbe spp
nauplii followed by a comb
ination of
A. nauplii and
Tisbe spp copepodites/copepods; group C fed copepod
nauplii solely followed by
Tisbe spp copepodites and copepods; group D fed rotifers followed by
Tisbe spp copepodites and copepods. In this study we observed a positive effect of feed
ing
Tisbe spp copepods
in A. clarkii larviculture as a supplement live food to the traditional diet based on rotifers and
A. nauplii. In group B larvae, fed a comb
ination of rotifers/
Tisbe spp
nauplii followed by a comb
ination of
A. nauplii/
Tisbe spp copepodites-adults, a significant
increase of IGF II and IGF I gene exp
ression and a significant decrease of myostat
in gene exp
ression was evidenced by Real Time PCR compared to the other experimental groups. In this same group we also observed the best
results
in terms of growth (total length and weight) and survival.
In conclusion, the harpacticoid copepod Tisbe spp may be considered a suitable live prey for marine fish larvae larviculture when used as a supplement to the traditional diet based on rotifers and A. nauplii.