Growth, Survival, and Stress Resistance of Tiger Barb (Puntius tetrazona) Larvae Fed Fish Oil-Enriched Artemia franciscana Nauplii

Abstract

We tested the effect of fish oil (FO)-enriched Artemia on growth performance and stress resistance in tiger barb (Puntius tetrazona) larvae. Tiger barb larvae (˜2.31 mg) were fed FO-enriched (2.5, 5, 7.5%) or nonenriched Artemia nauplii for 14 days, followed by 14 days on nonenriched Artemia. FO enrichment significantly increased n-3 HUFA and n-3/n-6 ratio of nauplii. There was no significant difference in survival rate among the treatments. Fish fed enriched nauplii grew better at days 14 and 28, and exhibited greater resistance to osmotic and hypoxia stress. There were no significant differences in growth and stress resistance among FO-enriched groups.

KEYWORDS:

• Tiger barb
• Artemia
• enrichment
• growth
• stress