PREY CONSUMPTION OF ATLANTIC HALIBUT (HIPPOGLOSSUS-HIPPOGLOSSUS L) LARVAE - SELECTIVITY OR AVAILABILITY

Prey consumption of Atlantic halibut larvae was investigated in two experiments involving six distributions of Brachionus plicatilis and two size classes of Artemia sp. over 2, 4 and 6 days. It was shown that Atlantic halibut larvae are essentially non-selective in their first 2 days of feeding and that the ingestion of larger prey increases slightly after 6 days. It was also indicated that the larvae may have a handling problem with the largest prey. The energetic return to the larvae was, however, found to increase when higher proportions of large prey were offered. It was further shown that halibut larvae are able to ingest inert feed.