1.
WELCOME

2.
ZOOPLANKTON CULTURE FOR
MARINE FISH HATCHERIES
Muhammed Anzeer, F.
Vizhinjam Research Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research
Institute (CMFRI), Vizhinjam, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 521, Kerala,
India

3.
INTRODUCTION
Advancements in capture fisheries - overexploitation of
natural fish stock
Aquaculture - meeting fish demand and also as a mean of
natural stock replenishment
Constrain- Development of complete larval feed

4.
LIVE FEEDS are the nature’s choice.
Artificial feed can replace the live feed only to certain extent
for growth and survival but live feed always ensure complete
nourishment.

5.
 Size
 Nutritional value
 Ease of production and
 Preference of larvae
Criteria for selection of live feed organisms

6.
Important organisms
 Copepods
 Cladocerans
 Decapod larvae
 Rotifers and
 Ciliates

7.
POPULAR ORGANISMS
 Rotifers
 Artemia and
 Copepods

8.
 Phylum – Rotifera
 Small (0.1- 0.5mm)
 Filter feeders
 High reproduction rate (sexual and asexual methods)
 Common Sp. Used - Brachionus plicatilis (200-360μ)
B. rotundiformis (150-220μ)
 Can attain density up to 2000- 10000 animals/ml.
 Both marine and freshwater forms are there
ROTIFERS

9.
LIFE CYCLE

10.
 Temperature: 30°C
 pH: 7.2-9
 Feed: Nannochloropsis sp. (algae)
 Feeding Rate: 15 ml of Nanno/10
million/day
 Feeding Times/Day: Continuous, or every 3
hours
CULTURE CONDITIONS

11.
 World’s most popular and widely used live feed
 Ability to make dormant eggs called cysts
 The artemia cysts can be stored in dry condition for a
longer period
 200 tonnes of artemia cyst is marketed annually.
ARTEMIA NAUPLII

12.
 Good quality water
 Clean hatching
equipments
 pH: 8.5
 Illumination: constant
bright light
 Temperature: 24-28°
REQUIREMENTS FOR CYST HATCHING
 Aeration: needed to keep cysts
circulating.
 Salinity: to be approximately 24-
28ppt.
 Density of cysts should not exceed 10
grams / liter.
 Incubation Time: approximately 24
hours.

13.
Tiny planktonic crustaceans
More than 10000 species known
Adapted to fluctuating environment and found in all natural water bodies-
“Insects of the sea”
Good source of :
Proteins, Amino acids, Lipids, Fatty acids Vitamins and minerals
COPEPODS

14.
Copepod nauplii are successfully used as first feed
for fish larvae in cases where rotifers were
inadequate in their nutritional value. Copepods
contain the essential unsaturated fatty acids
(HUFA) which makes them more appropriate food
for fish and fish larvae.
Most of the early fish larvae are evolutionarily
adapted for feeding on copepods than on other
animals.

15.
Culture
Batch culture and Continuous culture
Reproduction
sexual, sexes are separate.
Most of them have typical life cycle involving six naupliar stages
and five copepodite stages.
Salinity : 30 ± 2
Temperature : 27⁰C- 30⁰C
Light : natural day with 80% reduction and 12 hr light-12 hr dark
combination are ideal

16.
Feeding: a combination of Isochrysis galbana
and Nannochloropsis oculata
Cleaning of tanks : daily removal of
accumulated debris and waste food

17.
MICRO ALGAL CULTURE
 Dominant
 Hardy
 Nutritionally efficient

18.
THANKS
Presented on 29th September 2015 in the national seminar organized by the zoology
department of st. Thomas college, Kozhenchery, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India