Daily rates of ingestion on rotifers and Artemia nauplii by laboratory-reared grouper larvae of Epinephelus suillus

Abstract

The amount of rotifers and Artemia nauplii consumed daily by the grouper Epinephelus suillus larvae was determined through examination of gut contents. The larvae (2.6 mm TL) were initially fed rotifers on day 2 and newly hatched Artemia nauplii on day 21 (9.1 mm TL). The amount of food consumed by the larvae increased with larval growth. Larvae also showed diurnal feeding pattern at day 7 (3.6 mm TL), day 14 (4.9 mm TL), day 21 (9.1 mm TL) and day 28 (11.1 mm TL). Feeding incidence increased in the evening and became zero at 2100-2200 h. Active feeding started earlier in the older larvae and satiation was between 0900-1100 hr.