Effects of Alternative Food Types on Body Size and Survival of Hatchery-Reared Lake Sturgeon Larvae

Abstract

Aquaculture programs benefit from feeding protocols that result in large larval body size and high survival. Despite high labor, processing, and material costs relative to alternative foods, feeding live foods generally results in high larval growth and survival. For many species, studies that identify alternative food types or feeding regimens that produce larvae with high survival and size comparable with wild cohorts are lacking. In a 35-d study, the effects of alternative food types (previously frozen Artemia and trout crumble starter diet (trout diet) on TL, weight per fish, and survival of larval Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens were quantified. From days 14 to 21 postexogenous feeding, larvae were transitioned from live Artemia to one of the alternative food types or remained feeding on live Artemia as the control. At the end of the study, TL and weight per fish of larvae fed live Artemia were significantly greater than larvae fed the alternative foods. Survival of larvae fed live or frozen Artemia was higher than larvae fed the trout diet. Lower body growth and survival of larvae fed the alternative foods demonstrate that the frozen and formulated foods are not appropriate diets for Lake Sturgeon larvae.

Received January 24, 2017; accepted May 8, 2017Published online August 1, 2017

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Funding was provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Great Lakes Fishery Trust. We thank the 2015 Black Lake Sturgeon Rearing Facility technicians Ryan Walquist, Jenna Ruzich, Dillon Ross, Justin Waraniak, Garrett Johnson, and Adam Chastan for assistance with gamete collection, fertilization, and larvae rearing.