Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
MARINE REPORTS, cilt.2, sa.1, ss.37-62, 2023 (Hakemli Dergi)
The present study conducted a comparative evaluation of live feed consumption rates in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) during the larval phase. In a commercial scale marine hatchery, four tanks of seabream and four seabass larvae groups were used in the study with rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis) and artemia (Artemia salina) as live feed during the production period of 2021-2022. The data obtained were evaluated proportionally by comparing the feed consumption amounts in the larval period and the transition period to the postlarva stage. The findings in the present study revealed higher rotifer and artemia consumption rates for seabass compared to the seabream larvae. It has been noted that the seabass larvae consumed 15.44% more rotifers and 37.82% more artemia than the seabream larvae which corresponded to 1.18-fold increment in rotifer consumption and 1.61-fold in artemia consumption levels for the seabass over the seabream larvae under the conditions applied in this study. Despite the higher temperature range in the seabream larvae tanks than the seabass conditions, seabass larvae consumed higher amounts of rotifer and artemia, irrespective of temperature compared to the seabass larvae, which evidenced the species-specific nature of larvae feeding. The results of this study conducted at commercial scale provide useful data for hatchery management in terms of establishment of feeding protocols for seabream and seabass larvae production and estimation of investment and operational costs in marine aquaculture business.