10.04.2008

Fishfood for Fry

On this page I want to introduce the foods that I use to breed, especially for killifish. The list comprises the types of breeding food, which I think are the most handy to use. I've tried also the breeding of Moina and Springtails, but abandoned it again because of the fussiness and sensitivity.

Of course, Artemia is not without reason generally propagated as the rearing diet number 1 because it is accepted by almost all fry immediately after hatching. That is for Turbatrix aceti and the various live food substitutes not always the case. However, it should be proofed always whether and how long the various fishspecies take only live food. An early habit of alternative foods is best for the balanced diet of fry. The nutriens of e.g. Spirulina and Cyclop Eeze are superior to most life food and Artemia as the only food for a long time is certainly not the optimum.

I have dispensed with a presentation of life food at this point, because there are plenty of sources for breeding instructions on the Internet.

The following table summarizes the most improtend nutrients of the shown foods. For several parameters averages are given. I'm not really interested in the exact values, but on the trends.

Should anyone have further information on the listed food, I would add them very gratefully:

	Artemia/decapsulated	Vinegar Eels	Spirulina	Cyclop eeze	Daphnia pulex / Water Fleas
Size	420-530 µm	800 x 20 µm	25-40 x 200-400 µm	800 µm	0,5 - 4 mm
Water	21 % / 17-28%	80 – 90 %	7 %	<8%	95 %
Protein	63 % / 58 %	40 %	60 %	62 %	3 %
essential AS			22 %
Fat	7 %, 19-24 %	15-22 %	6 %	36 %	< 1 %
Linolenic acid	1.3 %		0.8 -1.5 %	10.45 %
EPA	0.25 %			13 %
DHA	2.7 %			12 %
Carbohydrate	25 %		15 %	3 %
Carotinoids	31 ppm	1700 – 3350 ppm	3000-7500 ppm
Ashes	5 %	6-8 %	3.2 %

	Artemia spec - the Brine Shrimp The various species of the genus Artemia probably represent the most commonly used fish feed for fry. The advantages are obvious. This live food is eaten by most fry immediately, it does not transfer diseases, and it is always available. Due to its high protein content and its high quality fat, this food is, both alive and decapsulated, very suitable for young fish. When the fry take not moving food, then decapsulates eggs are even more nutritious, because of the higher fat content.
	Turbatrix aceti – the Vinegar Eels Vinegar Eels are an excellent breeding food for very small fry. The breeding is very simple, robust and with almost no effort to accomplish. A big advantage is that the Turbatrix aceti stay a long time alive in fresh water activating the feeding reflex of the fry by their curling movements. Turbatrix aceti are for me the live food with the least effort. The high protein and fat content and the ease of keeping and caring are reasons enough to favourite them for the rearing of killifish. Killifish also take Spirulina, Cyclop Eeze and decapsulated Artemia soon, which is not the case for all fish groups.
	Daphnia spec. – Water Fleas The big advantage of water fleas is, that they are very easy to breed and with a functioning farming newly hatched Daphnia are always available. They does not pollute the fish breeding water, because they survive normaly until they will be eaten. The admittedly low nutritional value can be increased by feeding Spirulina to the water fleas. The high content of fibers improves the growth of the frey greatly, so I enjoy small water fleas as additional food.
	Spirulina platensis - the blue-green algae power food The blue-green alga Spirulina is not a live food, so it will not be accepted by all frey, but if it is accepted it is one of the most valuable fry food, because of its nutrients. The high protein content, the ratio of essential amino acids and the high proportion of valuable unsaturated fatty acids are unique. The extremely high content of carotenoids supports the coloration of young fish and shrimp. Moreover, it is a very fine powder so that it can be eaten already by tiny fish. The cell walls of cyanobacteria consist of easily digestible polysaccharides, so that the ingredients are easy to assimilate.
	Cyclop eeze – arctic Cyclops This food is the ideal alternative for Artemia, if the young fish take feed that does not move. Because of its ingredients, it is then superior to brine shrimp. Especially the extremely high astaxanthin content and the highest known content of unsaturated and omega 3 fatty acids make this food a real alternative. The content of omega 3 fatty acids is 40% higher than in newly hatched brine shrimp. Through natural attractants, such as betaine, it is taken willingly by many fry.

© Andreas Jäger