Preliminary results on sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae rearing with compound diet from first feeding. Comparison with carp (Cyprinus carpio) larvae

Three compound diets, based on fish protein hydrolysate and yeast (diet A), soybean protein concentrate and yeast (diet B) and fish meal (diet C), were tested with start-feeding sea bass and carp larvae, during 28 days at 19 degrees C (4 replicates) and 20 days at 24 degrees C (3 replicates), respectively. In sea bass larvae, diet A yielded better results (survival: 35 +/- 6%, mean weight: 3.4 +/- 0.8 mg) than diets B (survival: 14 +/- 2%, mean weight: 1.8 +/- 0.4 mg) and C (survival: 19 +/- 5%, mean weight 1.1 +/- 0.2 mg). In carp larvae, feeding diet A resulted in a high survival (86 +/- 7%) and the best growth (mean weight: 73 +/- 14 mg), diet B led to in a higher survival (98 +/- 1%) but to a lower growth (mean weight: 45 +/- 12 mg) and diet C gave the poorest survival (45 +/- 6%) and mean weight (11 +/- 1 mg). Thus, start-feeding sea bass larvae proved to be able to utilize compound diets, as previously shown in carp and other freshwater fish larvae. Although inferior to live food, diet A containing fish protein hydrolysate supported significant growth and survival and can serve as a starting point for further study of the nutritional requirements of sea bass larvae. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.