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Different food sources on the initial performance of red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus) post-larvae in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Journal
Medicina Veterinária (UFRPE)
ISSN
1809-4678
Date Issued
2025-09-01
Author(s)
Valeria Macarena Silva-Espín
Amanda Elisabeth Bonilla-Bonilla
Nelson René Ortiz-Naveda
Abstract
The cachama or pacu (Piaractus brachypomus), a fish species native to Ecuador, has faced limitations in its production. In this context, the focus is on improving breeding methods and increasing survival during larviculture.
This research aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of initial diets on the rearing of cachama post-larvae in controlled environments at a fish station in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cachama post-larvae, obtained through induced breeding using carp pituitary extract, were fed specific diets to meet the minimum nutritional requirements, ensuring survival and growth.
The diets evaluated were: T0-zooplankton, T1-spirulina, T2-commercial feed, and T3-Artemia salina nauplii. Statistical analyses, ANOVA, and Tukey's test were applied to identify and compare the differences between treatments.
A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments, and three replications, over 72h (with samples taken every 6h). The absolute growth rate was highest in treatment T3 (0.36 ± 0.03mg/day) compared to treatments T0, T1, and T2, which showed 0.31 ± 0.01mg/day, 0.27 ± 0.004mg/day, and 0.13 ± 0.003mg/day, respectively.
The best results were obtained using A. salina nauplii as the initial feed. This diet, along with zooplankton, demonstrated superior performance in growth, mortality, and survival indicators, promoting the development of the post-larvae.
This research aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of initial diets on the rearing of cachama post-larvae in controlled environments at a fish station in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Cachama post-larvae, obtained through induced breeding using carp pituitary extract, were fed specific diets to meet the minimum nutritional requirements, ensuring survival and growth.
The diets evaluated were: T0-zooplankton, T1-spirulina, T2-commercial feed, and T3-Artemia salina nauplii. Statistical analyses, ANOVA, and Tukey's test were applied to identify and compare the differences between treatments.
A completely randomized experimental design was used with four treatments, and three replications, over 72h (with samples taken every 6h). The absolute growth rate was highest in treatment T3 (0.36 ± 0.03mg/day) compared to treatments T0, T1, and T2, which showed 0.31 ± 0.01mg/day, 0.27 ± 0.004mg/day, and 0.13 ± 0.003mg/day, respectively.
The best results were obtained using A. salina nauplii as the initial feed. This diet, along with zooplankton, demonstrated superior performance in growth, mortality, and survival indicators, promoting the development of the post-larvae.