Technical article · 2025
V. Carbone, A. Shinn, H. Crieloue, A. van Amerongen, I.N.A. Giri, Haryanti, Y.N. Asih, Sudewi, N.W.W. Astuti, A. Muzaki, K. Mahardika, I. Mastuti, I.G.N. Permana, C.B. Koh, W.L. Quek, Y. He, R. Hidajat, T. Kunthahong, F. Lenzi, T. De Wolf, G. Rombaut, S. Debono
Early introduction of formulated microdiets and enriched live feeds reduced rotifer dependency by up to 69% in barramundi hatcheries while significantly improving larval survival and stress resistance.
This study evaluated the adaptation of European finfish larval rearing strategies to Asian seabass (Lates calcarifer, barramundi) across two hatchery systems: a small-scale backyard facility in Indonesia and an advanced commercial Mediterranean-style system in Singapore. The trials investigated the early introduction of manufactured microdiets (Natura pRo and ExL) alongside enriched live feeds (AF Artemia and enriched rotifers) compared to standard protocols using fresh microalgae and non-enriched live food. Larvae readily accepted the microdiets from first feeding (2–3 days post-hatch). Rotifer consumption was successfully reduced by 69% in the backyard system and 45% in the advanced commercial system. Larval survival rates in the advanced protocol treatments increased by 22% in the backyard hatchery and 10% in the commercial facility compared to control regimes. In the backyard system, larvae fed the experimental diet achieved significantly greater total length from 15 dph onwards (p < 0.01). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis following acute salinity stress tests (70–75 ppt) demonstrated significantly higher stress resistance in larvae reared with the advanced feeding protocol (p < 0.001). These results confirm that early dry feed introduction combined with optimized live feed enrichment enhances Asian seabass fry quality and survival.
Asian seabass, barramundi, larval rearing, rotifer replacement, live feed enrichment, microdiets, salinity stress resistance
Early co-feeding of formulated dry feed and Artemia in pikeperch larviculture enables weaning 6 days earlier without compromising growth, while reducing production costs by up to 34%.
Microbial management in marine hatcheries integrates Vibrio reduction and probiotic water conditioning in rotifer and Artemia protocols to shape beneficial larval microbiomes.
Natura pRo early microdiets enable commercial hatcheries to reduce rotifer use by 50% to 80% across multiple marine fish species while maintaining larval growth, survival, and skeletal quality.
