Mass Production of Freshwater Rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, Under Different Diets and Regimes

ABSTRACT

The production ability of freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus, cultured with two algal species, Chlorella vulgaris, and Spirulina platensis, and a baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, were studied using semicontinuous culture method. B. calyciflorus was fed with the above three types of food at five different concentrations (125, 250, 500,750, and 1,000 μg/mL). Among the three different types of diet, maximum production of B. calyciflorus (489.20 ±10.91 individuals/mL; P < 0.05) was obtained with C. vulgaris, followed by S. cerevisiae, and S. platensis. Moreover, in each of the three diets, the maximum rotifer production was obtained at a particular concentration (C. vulgaris, 750 μg/mL; S. cerevisiae, 750 μg/mL; and S. platensis, 500 μg/mL) beyond which the rotifer production decreased. The peak production due to C. vulgaris (489 individuals/mL) was better than S. cerevisiae (321 individuals/mL) when the number of rotifers was considered. The present study indicates that the quantity and quality of food have a significant role on the rotifer production and that C. vulgaris at 750 μg/mL appears suitable to feed to rotifers for maximal production.

KEYWORDS:

• Brachionus calyciflorus
• baker's yeast
• Chlorella
• live food
• semicontinuous culture
• Spirulina
• rotifer