Abstract

The success of the aquaculture sector relies on a consistent supply of healthy fish seeds. Rotifer has been identified as superior live food to artificial feed for nurturing fish larvae, the culture development of which largely depends on green microalgae. This study aimed to investigate the suitability of Chlorococcum sp. for enhancing the production of Brachionus calyciflorus. Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of different food types and concentrations of Chlorococcum sp. on the growth of B. calyciflorus. In the first experiment, three food types were tested: live Chlorococcum sp. (1x105 cells/mL; T1 ), baker’s yeast (0.2 gm/L; T2 ), and a combination of live Chlorococcum sp. and baker’s yeast (0.5x105 cells/mL + 0.1 gm/L; T3 ). The highest population density and growth rate (r) of rotifers were observed in the T1 diet. In the second experiment, three concentrations of Chlorococcum sp. were tested: 0.5x106 cells/mL (T1 ), 1x106 cells/mL (T2 ), and 3 x 106 cells/mL (T3 ). Both the population density and growth rate of B. calyciflorus were found highest in the T3 diet. In conclusion, Chlorococcum sp. at a concentration of 3x106 cells/mL is suggested as the best food for the successful mass culture of the rotifer B. calyciflorus. 

Keywords

Brachionus calyciflorus, Chlorococcum sp., culture, growth rate, population density