Response of <i>Cyprinus carpio</i> hatchlings artemia, mixed zooplankton and yeast (single cell protein) as starter diets

Abstract

Experiments were conducted on the response of Cyprinus carpio to Artemia nauplii, mixed zooplankton and Yeast (single cell protein). The fish was fed two quantities of each diet, 100 and 150 ml artemia; 50-100 ml and 150-200 ml zooplankton; and 185 -195 and 200-250 ml yeast. They were fed twice daily There was no significant variation (P>0.05) in the Specific growth Rate, Mean Weight Gain of fish fed artemia and mixed zooplankton while there was significant variation in fish fed yeast. The growth of the fish with zooplankton diet showed a highly positively correlated (r2 = 0.999; P<0.05) relationship and there was significant variation in the levels of the diet fed. The yeast diet had a poor negative correlation and the growth of the fish with the levels fed did not vary significantly (r2 = 0.333; P>0.05). As for the artemia diet growth correlated positively although it was poor (r2 = 0.071). The two levels fed varied significantly (P < 0.05). There was a strong positive correlation between zooplankton and yeast (r = 1; P>0.05), and artemia and yeast (r = 1; P<0.05) and artemia and zooplankton were fairly correlated (r = 0.605; P>0.05) in the growth of fish. In comparing the Mean Final Weight and Specific Growth Rate of the three diets there was no significant difference (P>0.05). The percentage survival of fish fed the varying diets varied significant. The zooplankton diet is therefore more suitable for raising Cyprinus carpio fry. It has the advantage of being cheaper and easily cultured in tanks and ponds.

Keywords: Response, Artemia salina, mixed zooplankton, yeast

Nigerian Journal of Fisheries Vol. 5 (1) 2008: pp. 63-72