Short communication
TEMPERATURE-INFLUENCED GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF BURBOT LOTA LOTA (L.) LARVAE FED LIVE FOOD UNDER CONTROLLED CONDITIONS
Jacek Wolnicki, Rafał Kamiński, Leszek Myszkowski
The Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland
ABSTRACT. The growth and survival of burbot Lota lota (L.) larvae reared from the first feeding on freshly hatched Artemia franciscana nauplii at 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24°C was compared in a 20-day experiment. Nauplii of the commercial strain Artemia proved to be an excellent start diet for L. lota larvae. The best fish growth was found at 21°C where they attained a final average total length of 14.4 mm and an average body weight of 37.1 mg. The highest final survival rates of 90 and 92% were recorded at 12 and 15°C, respectively. At all higher water temperatures, larval final survival rates were significantly lower, with the minimum value of 41% at 24°C. In light of these results, it is evident that either temperatures lower or higher than 21°C are outside of the optimal range for L. lota larvae as they produce relatively slow growth or poor survival or both.
Key words: Lota lota, LARVAE, LIVE FOOD, GROWTH, SURVIVAL, TEMPERATURE OPTIMUM
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Jacek Wolnicki, Instytut Rybactwa Śródlądowego, Zakład Rybactwa Stawowego, Żabieniec, 05-500 Piaseczno; Tel./Fax: +48 22 7562044; e-mail: jawol@infish.com.pl