Breeding, rearing and feeding studies in the cleaner goby Gobiosoma evelynae

• Published in: Aquaculture 2005-11, Vol.250 (1), p.175-182
• Main Authors: Olivotto, Ike, Zenobi, Alessio, Rollo, Arianna, Migliarini, Beatrice, Avella, Matteo, Carnevali, Oliana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal aquaculture; animal breeding; Animal productions; Animal reproduction; Aquariums; Biological and medical sciences; Brachionus plicatilis; Brachionus rotundiformis; Breeding of animals; Ciliates; Ciliophora; Copepoda; Coral reef; Elacatinus evelynae; embryogenesis; Euplotes; Fish; fish culture; fish feeding; Fish larvae; Food; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Gobiosoma evelynae; mariculture; Marine; marine fish; Microorganisms; mortality; Perciformes; Reproduction; Rotifera; Rotifers; Survival analysis
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2005.02.057

Breeding and rearing some of the species most commonly used in the aquarium trade actually represent an economical and ecological tool for broadening development, thus the present study investigates captive breeding and rearing of a small goby, the cleaner goby Gobiosoma evelynae. Egg clutches were obtained from two couples maintained in 100-L tanks under controlled conditions. Eggs were laid in PVC pipes and the male normally guarded the nest until the fry hatched. Hatching took place 168 h post-fertilization at 25 °C. Larvae were divided into different experimental groups and fed on different HUFAs enriched feeding combinations: naked Euplotes sp. ciliates and small rotifers Brachionus rotundiformis (Group A), small rotifers B. rotundiformis and larger ones Brachionus plicatilis (Group B) and larger rotifers B. plicatilis solely (Group C). Significantly higher survival rates (50% juveniles) were observed in larvae fed on the naked ciliate Euplotes sp. and smaller rotifers B. rotundiformis with respect to larvae fed on the larger one B. plicatilis (10% juveniles) . In larvae fed on the smaller rotifer B. rotundiformis followed by the larger B. plicatilis, a 35% survival rate was observed . From these feeding studies, it is evident that significant differences in survival rates are already evident from day 3 post-hatch, indicating that marine ciliates are the key organism to improve G. evelynae larvae survival and thus an alternative food source to copepod nauplii and rotifers.