Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance

High larval and fry mortality has been a major challenge to the commercial culture of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus). Research indicates inadequate feeding to be a possible cause of the high mortality rates of larvae/fry grown in captivity. An experiment was conducted to first describ...

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Main Authors: Prince Ofori-Darkwah, Daniel Adjei-Boateng, Regina Esi Edziyie, Nelson Winston Agbo, Ivar Lund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Aquaculture
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1310429/full
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author Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Daniel Adjei-Boateng
Regina Esi Edziyie
Nelson Winston Agbo
Ivar Lund
author_facet Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Daniel Adjei-Boateng
Regina Esi Edziyie
Nelson Winston Agbo
Ivar Lund
author_sort Prince Ofori-Darkwah
collection DOAJ
description High larval and fry mortality has been a major challenge to the commercial culture of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus). Research indicates inadequate feeding to be a possible cause of the high mortality rates of larvae/fry grown in captivity. An experiment was conducted to first describe the developmental stages of H. niloticus eggs and larvae until schooling, 6 days after hatching (DAH), at 26°C. The morphological development, survival, growth (weight gain and length), and swimming behavior of the larvae were monitored. A follow-up feeding trial was conducted with H. niloticus fry from 6 to 27 DAH involving four treatments: feeding with Artemia nauplii; a combined feed of 50% Artemia nauplii and 50% rotifers (w/w); feeding with rotifers; and no feeding. The activities of three digestive enzymes (trypsin, lipase, and amylase) were assessed in fry exposed to the live feed treatments. At hatching, the larvae had a large, vascularized yolk sac filled with yolk platelets, which occupied approximately one-third of the total body length of the abdominal cavity. Yolk platelet reabsorption started at 1 DAH and was complete at 6 DAH. Metamorphosis was completed at 6 DAH, and schooling behavior was observed. For the feeding trial, the fry that received Artemia nauplii underwent the fastest development until 27 DAH. Similarly, the survival rate was considerably higher in fry fed with Artemia nauplii than in those that received a combination of Artemia nauplii and rotifers or only rotifers. Overall, the survival rates for fry fed with Artemia nauplii and larvae co-fed were 72.7% ± 0.9% and 41.2% ± 3.3%, respectively. Fry did not survive until 27 DAH in the rotifer-fed and unfed treatment groups. Digestive enzyme activity differed significantly (p< 0.05) between treatments and sampling dates. All digestive enzymes were detectable at the onset of mouth opening (5 DAH) and fluctuated through the 7 and 9 DAH. Lower enzyme activity was observed when the fry were subjected to starvation or the rotifer treatment. Results indicate that Artemia nauplii is the best live feed organism for H. niloticus larviculture.
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spelling doaj.art-04d2ae48454c403a9ccac6e72c7dc7922024-02-13T04:32:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aquaculture2813-53342024-02-01310.3389/faquc.2024.13104291310429Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performancePrince Ofori-Darkwah0Prince Ofori-Darkwah1Daniel Adjei-Boateng2Regina Esi Edziyie3Nelson Winston Agbo4Ivar Lund5Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaTechnical University of Denmark (DTU) Aqua, Section for Aquaculture The North Sea Research Centre, Technical University of Denmark, Hirtshals, DenmarkDepartment of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaDepartment of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, GhanaTechnical University of Denmark (DTU) Aqua, Section for Aquaculture The North Sea Research Centre, Technical University of Denmark, Hirtshals, DenmarkHigh larval and fry mortality has been a major challenge to the commercial culture of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus). Research indicates inadequate feeding to be a possible cause of the high mortality rates of larvae/fry grown in captivity. An experiment was conducted to first describe the developmental stages of H. niloticus eggs and larvae until schooling, 6 days after hatching (DAH), at 26°C. The morphological development, survival, growth (weight gain and length), and swimming behavior of the larvae were monitored. A follow-up feeding trial was conducted with H. niloticus fry from 6 to 27 DAH involving four treatments: feeding with Artemia nauplii; a combined feed of 50% Artemia nauplii and 50% rotifers (w/w); feeding with rotifers; and no feeding. The activities of three digestive enzymes (trypsin, lipase, and amylase) were assessed in fry exposed to the live feed treatments. At hatching, the larvae had a large, vascularized yolk sac filled with yolk platelets, which occupied approximately one-third of the total body length of the abdominal cavity. Yolk platelet reabsorption started at 1 DAH and was complete at 6 DAH. Metamorphosis was completed at 6 DAH, and schooling behavior was observed. For the feeding trial, the fry that received Artemia nauplii underwent the fastest development until 27 DAH. Similarly, the survival rate was considerably higher in fry fed with Artemia nauplii than in those that received a combination of Artemia nauplii and rotifers or only rotifers. Overall, the survival rates for fry fed with Artemia nauplii and larvae co-fed were 72.7% ± 0.9% and 41.2% ± 3.3%, respectively. Fry did not survive until 27 DAH in the rotifer-fed and unfed treatment groups. Digestive enzyme activity differed significantly (p< 0.05) between treatments and sampling dates. All digestive enzymes were detectable at the onset of mouth opening (5 DAH) and fluctuated through the 7 and 9 DAH. Lower enzyme activity was observed when the fry were subjected to starvation or the rotifer treatment. Results indicate that Artemia nauplii is the best live feed organism for H. niloticus larviculture.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1310429/fullhatchingyolk sacHeterotis niloticusArtemiarotifer and larval survival
spellingShingle Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Prince Ofori-Darkwah
Daniel Adjei-Boateng
Regina Esi Edziyie
Nelson Winston Agbo
Ivar Lund
Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
Frontiers in Aquaculture
hatching
yolk sac
Heterotis niloticus
Artemia
rotifer and larval survival
title Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
title_full Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
title_fullStr Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
title_full_unstemmed Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
title_short Early ontogeny of the African bony-tongue (Heterotis niloticus) and the effect of Artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
title_sort early ontogeny of the african bony tongue heterotis niloticus and the effect of artemia and rotifer live feeds on larval digestive enzyme activity and performance
topic hatching
yolk sac
Heterotis niloticus
Artemia
rotifer and larval survival
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/faquc.2024.1310429/full
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