This document discusses the culture methods for the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, an important live feed for larval marine animals. It describes how to maintain stock cultures in 1-2L flasks using Isochrysis galbana algae at 24-25C under a 12:12 light cycle. Main culture methods discussed are using various tank sizes from 50L to 1800L, sterilizing tanks with bleach, and maintaining temperature at 24-26C with lighting. Feeding protocols are provided using yeast, fish oil, and algae to culture rotifers from low to high densities. Rotifers are harvested daily and fed to larval fish starting at 3 days post hatch at 3

1. Submitted by
Abhishek Giri
M.F.Sc. (4th Sem)
Dept. of Zoology and Applied Aquaculture
Barkatullah University
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
462026

3. INTRODUCTION
 The rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis, is an important food
organisms for the first feeding stages of larval marine
animals around the world.
 It is a cosmopoliton euryhaline species, thus it is very
versatile in marine culture.
 The rotifer varies in size depending on culture
conditions .
 Adult size ranging from 123 to 315 µm in length.
 It can be grown in seawater in a wide range of salinities.
 Feed types vary, but the most common are algae such
as Tetraselmis, Chlorella and Isochrysis.
 Other’s incluid baker’s and torula yeast, fish oil and
artificial diets.

4. METHODS
 Stock cultures for inoculant or starter cultures are
maintained in 1-2 liter flasks.
 Stock cultures can be maintained on an algal diet of
Isochrysis galbana at 24-25℃ and a light cycle of 12
light : 12 dark.
 Cultures should be restarted periodically, at least
every month or more.

5. MAIN SPECIES OF ROTIFERS
1. Brachionus plicatilis. (MarineWater)
2. Brachionus rotundiformis. (MarineWater)
3. Brachionus calyciflorus. (FreshWater)

8. CULTURE METHODS
 Rotifers have been cultured in 1.8 m dia., round,
flat-bottomed tanks that hold up to 1800 liters of
water, 140 liter conical tanks; 160 liter clear,
cylindrical fiberglass tanks; 50 liter polyethylene
bags; and 1.8 m dia. 3200 liter round outdoor tanks.
 Tanks are sterilized before use by addition of 2.5
ppm bleach for 12-24 hours.
 They are then filled with filtered seawater and
salinity is adjusted .
 Temperature is maintained at 24-26℃.
 Conical (room ceiling light) and outside
tanks(sunlight) have continuous light supplied from
light banks.

9. Using baker’s yeast and fish oil
 Set up 1800 liter round tank or conical tanks.
 On day one yeast is fed at 0.6-0.8 g/l, fish oil at 1.0
ml/10 l.
 On day two yeast is fed at 1.5 g/106 rotifers and fish
oil at 3ml/106 rotifers daily until rotifer density
reaches 50/ml.
 Then add 1-1.3 g yeast/106 and 2-3 ml of fish oil/106
rotifers daily until a density of 100/ml is attained.
 Then fed yeast at 0.6-1.0 g/106 rotifers and fish oil at
2ml/106 rotifers until the density reaches 150-
200/ml.
 At this time harvesting may begin.

11. Using algae, yeast and fish oil
 Set up one 1800 liter tank and inoculate with a 12 liter
carboy of Isochrysis galbana (132,000 cells/ml) and
medium (0.2 ml/liter of F/2 medium).
 On the second and third days add 0.2 ml/lit of F/2
medium and when the algae density reaches 132,000
cells/ml inoculate with 1-10 rotifers/ml.
 When the concentration of algae decreases, begin
adding yeast at 50 g/tank and fish oil at 1-2 ml/10 liters
each day.
 When rotifer density reaches 100/ml or more, begin
adding yeast at 0.7-1.0 g/106 rotifers and fish oil at 2-3
ml/106 rotifers.
 Harvesting rotifers can begin when the density reaches
200 rotifers/ml.

13. FEEDING ROTIFERS TO LARVAL FISH
 Larval red drum begin feeding approximately three
days after hatching, when their mouth parts
develop.
 Rotifers are fed at this time at a rate of 3-5
rotifers/ml until larger fed can be consumed.
 Due to the loss in nutritional value a few hours after
harvest, it is best to feed rotifers to fish at list twice
a day.

14. CONCLUSION
 There are many ways to culture rotifers.
 Keep culture containers and water clean.
 Control contaminants such as ciliates and bacteria.
 Harvest daily to maintain the culture in growth
phase.
 Add some algae daily, even a small amount.

15. REFERENCES
 A text book of fish and fishery science –
C.B.L.Srivastava.
 An introduction to fishes – S.S.Khanna.
 Work book on Limnology – A.D.Adoni.