USE OF FROZEN ZOOPLANKTON IN THE INTENSE REARING OF EUROPEAN CATFISH (Silurus glanis L.) LARVAE

Abstract

European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) larvae were reared for 14 days on artificial feed or mixed food (artificial feed and frozen zooplankton) used for initial 3, 6 or 9 days of rearing. Better growth and food conversion rate were observed in fish fed for initial 9 days mixed food (final body weight 0.87-0.90 g per ind., SGR 28.01-28.31% per day, and FCR 0.42-0.46), comparing to the fish fed artificial feed only (final body weight 0.71-0.72 g per ind., SGR 26.62-26.66% per day, and FCR 0.57-0.59). No statistically significant differences in fish survival were observed. Shorter (3 or 6 days) feeding mixed food did not result in statistically different growth rate or feed conversion rate.