Technical article · 2025
Edson Panana, Jessica Teske, Valentina Carbone, Stefan Teerlinck
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%.
The transition from live prey to formulated dry feed is a critical bottleneck in intensive pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) larviculture in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). In this trial, four weaning strategies were evaluated to optimize early weaning using the Natura dry feed line in combination with Artemia. Larvae co-fed dry feed alongside enriched Artemia from 8 days post-hatch (dph) (WS4) achieved weaning six days earlier than conventional protocols (WS1 and WS2). At 30 dph, WS4 larvae attained growth performance, swim bladder inflation (66–69%), and survival rates (37 ± 2.5%) equivalent to control groups, while abrupt early weaning without adequate co-feeding (WS3) impaired growth. Following transfer to juvenile rearing systems and first grading at 44 dph, survival was higher in WS4 (21.6%) and WS2 (21.5%) compared to the standard control WS1 (15.2%), alongside reduced deformity rates and improved stress resistance. Economic modeling indicated that early co-feeding reduced feed costs by 23% and labor costs by 45%, delivering an overall hatchery cost reduction of 32–34%.
pikeperch, larviculture, early weaning, co-feeding, RAS, Artemia, larval nutrition
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.
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.
