Suggested Reading
BFSC 202: Fish Food Organisms 2 (1+1)
Theory * FAO FISHERIES TECHNICAL PAPER-361, Patrick Lavens and Patrick
Unit I Sorgeloos
Candidate species of phytoplankton and zoo-plankton as live food organisms * Watanabe, T. and Kiron, V. 1994. Prospects in larval fish dietetics.
of freshwater and marine species.Tropic potentials - proximate composition of Aquaculture, 124: 223-251.
live feed. * Guillame, J., Kaushik, S., Berqot P., and Metallier, R., 2001. Nutrition and
feeding of fish and crustaceans, Springer Praxis Publishing, Chichester, UK.
* Halver J.E. 1989. Fish Nutrition, Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
Unit II
* Training Manual on Culture of Live Food Organisms for Aquahatcheries
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food
(1998), CIFE, Mumbai. Pages 5-16.
organisms; Green algae, blue-green algae, Spirulina, diatoms.
Unit III
Journals
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food 1. Aquaculture
infusoria, rotifers, cladocerons. 2. Aquaculture Research
3. Aquaculture Nutrition
Unit IV 4. Israel Journal of Aquaculture- Bamigdeh
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food tubifex, 5. Journal of Applied Ichthyology
brine shrimp, chironomids.
Unit V
Culture of earthworms, bait fish and forage fish.
Practicals
Methods of collection and identification of different live food organisms.-
Laboratory scale culture of selected live food organisms- (green algae,
Spirulina, Chaetoceros, rotifer, Moina, copepod). - Evaluation of live food
organisms.-Decapsulation and hatching method of brine shrimp cyst.
1
, Culture of Fish Food Organisms (1+1) organisms are mainly divided into protozoans, bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplanktons
crustaceans and worms. These fish food organisms are cultured based on their biology,
Dr. K.M.Shankar and Dr. Rosalind George reproduction and ecology, nutrition and water requirements. They are obtained by the
use of chemical fertilizers, cattle or poultry manure and vermicompost.
Overview
Though this field of fish food organisms forms a small part of the aquatic 1.2. Zooplanktons
systems but due to increasing commercial interest in the hatchery development of Animals which are carried along by the moving waters are known as plankton.
aquatic fin fish and shell fish for human needs lead to increasing urgent need for more Some have minimal independent movement but is negligible compared to water. They
development of live feed for providing feed for a larval stages of fish. Fish food are at the mercy of the water currents and drift about passively. Zooplanktons consist
organisms are essential for the developmental stages of many aquatic organisms. They of invertebrates and larvae and immature stages of both vertebrates and invertebrates.
are very important in the critical phases of fin fishes and shellfishes for their better Important among them being rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, worms larvae, annelids
survival, growth. They are directly consumed by first feeding phase of fin fishes and crustaceans. Some of the important zooplanktons members and their usefulness as
depending on their mouth size and inclination towards a chosen food. They are rich in fish food organisms are given in detailed sequence below.
proteins, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. Since cultivable aquatic organisms are
fragile and delicate at the hours of first feeding stage,it is very important to provide Unit 2 - Rotifers
right feed that they need for proper nourishment for better growth and survival since it
is the most critical phase of their life. As a result, the live food organisms are called as Expected Learning Outcome
living capsules of nutrition for the larvae of fish and prawns. Live feed is one of the Rotifers are microorgansims that are readily found in aquatic and semi-aquatic
main components for the successful operation of aqua- hatcheries mainly in prawns and habitats. Some are marine inhabitants, however most species are freshwater organisms.
shrimps. The availability of good quality and quantity of live foods contribute to They account for more than 90% of the zooplankton production in some freshwater
successful operation of aqua-hatchery both for intensive and small scale operations. systems and as such are a vital link in the food chain for most aquatic life. Therefore
These chapters have given a detailed knowledge regarding the plethora of fish food this chapter gives an insight into the process of culture and its uses.
organism available.
2.1. Rotifer classification
Unit 1 - Introduction Kingdom - Animalia
Expected Learning Outcome Sub-kingdom - Eumetazoa
• It deals with the introduction to zooplanktons as fish food organisms and Superphylum - Platyzoa
their culture techniques. Phylum – Rotifera
1.1. Introduction to Fish food organisms
Fish food organisms are microscopic organisms naturally present in the 2.2.Introduction
aquatic environment as primary food for the larvae of fin fish and shell fish. Their size The rotifers (commonly called wheel animalcules) make up a phylum of
ranges from a micron to few millimetres. They are tiny forms which suits the mouth microscopic and near-microscopic pseudocoelomate animals. Rotifers are
size of all kinds of fin fish and shell fish larvae. Eggs feed on yolk to become larvae. In microorgansims (100 to 2500 microns) that are readily found in aquatic and semi-
the transitional phase from eggs to larvae they are delicate, they shift in size, gut aquatic habitats. Some are marine inhabitants, however most species are freshwater
changes along with digestive apparatus. Much of their protein digestion takes place in organisms. Currently there are over 1000 described species. They account for more than
the hind gut epithelial cells. To overcome this fish food organisms play a vital role. The 90% of the zooplankton production in some freshwater systems and as such are a vital
major expansion of finfish and shell fish aquaculture around the world is attributed to link in the food chain for most aquatic life. Rotifers are known to have a very high
the development of standard mass production techniques of live feed. Live feeds are reproductive rate, reaching population densities of 1000 or more individuals per litre of
able to swim in water column and are thus constantly available to the larvae.Fish food water. Most rotifers are around 0.1–0.5 mm long (although their size can range from
2
, 50μm to over 2 millimeters), and are common in freshwater environments. Some
rotifers are free swimming and truly planktonic, others move by inchworming along the
substrate, and some are sessile, living inside tubes or gelatinous holdfasts that are
attached to a substrate. Rotifers are an important part of the freshwater zooplankton,
being a major food source and with many species also contributing to the decomposition
of soil organic matter.
Rotifer
2.3.Biology and life history of Rotifers
The body of rotifers is differentiated into 3 distinct parts head trunk and foot.
Head carries the rotary organ corona due to which it gets its name. The retractable
corona provides locomotive capabilities and whirling water movement which facilitates
their nutrition. The trunk contains the digestive tract, the excretory organs and genital
organs. The epidermis contains densely packed keratin proteins known as the lorica.
Mastax is the characteristic organ in rotifers which help in grinding of the ingested
particles. The shape of the lorica and the profile of the spines help us differentiate the
different species and morphotypes. Mass production of rotifers is achieved by by
encouraging them to reproduce asexually, since sexual reproduction results in male and
resting eggs.
3
BFSC 202: Fish Food Organisms 2 (1+1)
Theory * FAO FISHERIES TECHNICAL PAPER-361, Patrick Lavens and Patrick
Unit I Sorgeloos
Candidate species of phytoplankton and zoo-plankton as live food organisms * Watanabe, T. and Kiron, V. 1994. Prospects in larval fish dietetics.
of freshwater and marine species.Tropic potentials - proximate composition of Aquaculture, 124: 223-251.
live feed. * Guillame, J., Kaushik, S., Berqot P., and Metallier, R., 2001. Nutrition and
feeding of fish and crustaceans, Springer Praxis Publishing, Chichester, UK.
* Halver J.E. 1989. Fish Nutrition, Academic Press, San Diego, CA.
Unit II
* Training Manual on Culture of Live Food Organisms for Aquahatcheries
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food
(1998), CIFE, Mumbai. Pages 5-16.
organisms; Green algae, blue-green algae, Spirulina, diatoms.
Unit III
Journals
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food 1. Aquaculture
infusoria, rotifers, cladocerons. 2. Aquaculture Research
3. Aquaculture Nutrition
Unit IV 4. Israel Journal of Aquaculture- Bamigdeh
Biology, culture requirements and methodology of important live food tubifex, 5. Journal of Applied Ichthyology
brine shrimp, chironomids.
Unit V
Culture of earthworms, bait fish and forage fish.
Practicals
Methods of collection and identification of different live food organisms.-
Laboratory scale culture of selected live food organisms- (green algae,
Spirulina, Chaetoceros, rotifer, Moina, copepod). - Evaluation of live food
organisms.-Decapsulation and hatching method of brine shrimp cyst.
1
, Culture of Fish Food Organisms (1+1) organisms are mainly divided into protozoans, bacteria, phytoplankton, zooplanktons
crustaceans and worms. These fish food organisms are cultured based on their biology,
Dr. K.M.Shankar and Dr. Rosalind George reproduction and ecology, nutrition and water requirements. They are obtained by the
use of chemical fertilizers, cattle or poultry manure and vermicompost.
Overview
Though this field of fish food organisms forms a small part of the aquatic 1.2. Zooplanktons
systems but due to increasing commercial interest in the hatchery development of Animals which are carried along by the moving waters are known as plankton.
aquatic fin fish and shell fish for human needs lead to increasing urgent need for more Some have minimal independent movement but is negligible compared to water. They
development of live feed for providing feed for a larval stages of fish. Fish food are at the mercy of the water currents and drift about passively. Zooplanktons consist
organisms are essential for the developmental stages of many aquatic organisms. They of invertebrates and larvae and immature stages of both vertebrates and invertebrates.
are very important in the critical phases of fin fishes and shellfishes for their better Important among them being rotifers, cladocerans, copepods, worms larvae, annelids
survival, growth. They are directly consumed by first feeding phase of fin fishes and crustaceans. Some of the important zooplanktons members and their usefulness as
depending on their mouth size and inclination towards a chosen food. They are rich in fish food organisms are given in detailed sequence below.
proteins, carbohydrates and essential fatty acids. Since cultivable aquatic organisms are
fragile and delicate at the hours of first feeding stage,it is very important to provide Unit 2 - Rotifers
right feed that they need for proper nourishment for better growth and survival since it
is the most critical phase of their life. As a result, the live food organisms are called as Expected Learning Outcome
living capsules of nutrition for the larvae of fish and prawns. Live feed is one of the Rotifers are microorgansims that are readily found in aquatic and semi-aquatic
main components for the successful operation of aqua- hatcheries mainly in prawns and habitats. Some are marine inhabitants, however most species are freshwater organisms.
shrimps. The availability of good quality and quantity of live foods contribute to They account for more than 90% of the zooplankton production in some freshwater
successful operation of aqua-hatchery both for intensive and small scale operations. systems and as such are a vital link in the food chain for most aquatic life. Therefore
These chapters have given a detailed knowledge regarding the plethora of fish food this chapter gives an insight into the process of culture and its uses.
organism available.
2.1. Rotifer classification
Unit 1 - Introduction Kingdom - Animalia
Expected Learning Outcome Sub-kingdom - Eumetazoa
• It deals with the introduction to zooplanktons as fish food organisms and Superphylum - Platyzoa
their culture techniques. Phylum – Rotifera
1.1. Introduction to Fish food organisms
Fish food organisms are microscopic organisms naturally present in the 2.2.Introduction
aquatic environment as primary food for the larvae of fin fish and shell fish. Their size The rotifers (commonly called wheel animalcules) make up a phylum of
ranges from a micron to few millimetres. They are tiny forms which suits the mouth microscopic and near-microscopic pseudocoelomate animals. Rotifers are
size of all kinds of fin fish and shell fish larvae. Eggs feed on yolk to become larvae. In microorgansims (100 to 2500 microns) that are readily found in aquatic and semi-
the transitional phase from eggs to larvae they are delicate, they shift in size, gut aquatic habitats. Some are marine inhabitants, however most species are freshwater
changes along with digestive apparatus. Much of their protein digestion takes place in organisms. Currently there are over 1000 described species. They account for more than
the hind gut epithelial cells. To overcome this fish food organisms play a vital role. The 90% of the zooplankton production in some freshwater systems and as such are a vital
major expansion of finfish and shell fish aquaculture around the world is attributed to link in the food chain for most aquatic life. Rotifers are known to have a very high
the development of standard mass production techniques of live feed. Live feeds are reproductive rate, reaching population densities of 1000 or more individuals per litre of
able to swim in water column and are thus constantly available to the larvae.Fish food water. Most rotifers are around 0.1–0.5 mm long (although their size can range from
2
, 50μm to over 2 millimeters), and are common in freshwater environments. Some
rotifers are free swimming and truly planktonic, others move by inchworming along the
substrate, and some are sessile, living inside tubes or gelatinous holdfasts that are
attached to a substrate. Rotifers are an important part of the freshwater zooplankton,
being a major food source and with many species also contributing to the decomposition
of soil organic matter.
Rotifer
2.3.Biology and life history of Rotifers
The body of rotifers is differentiated into 3 distinct parts head trunk and foot.
Head carries the rotary organ corona due to which it gets its name. The retractable
corona provides locomotive capabilities and whirling water movement which facilitates
their nutrition. The trunk contains the digestive tract, the excretory organs and genital
organs. The epidermis contains densely packed keratin proteins known as the lorica.
Mastax is the characteristic organ in rotifers which help in grinding of the ingested
particles. The shape of the lorica and the profile of the spines help us differentiate the
different species and morphotypes. Mass production of rotifers is achieved by by
encouraging them to reproduce asexually, since sexual reproduction results in male and
resting eggs.
3
