Study of Sudden Replacement of Live Feed by Commercial Feed Affects Growth, Survival Rate and Resistance to Environmental Stress in Oscar Fish (Astronotus ocellatus) Larvae

The huge attention toward dried food in ornamental fish culture is caused by the difficulty related to live-food preparation. This study investigated the effects replacement of live feed by commercial feed TetraMin on growth, survival rate and resistance to environmental stress in Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus) larvae. The experimental setup was completely randomized design comprised of five treatments including, namely T1 (Forty days Artemia nauplii), T2 (Thirty days Artemia ten days of commercial food), T3 (Twenty days Artemia twenty days of commercial food), T4 (Ten days Artemia thirty days of commercial food) and T5 (Forty days commercial feed). All treatments were performed in triplicate. In this study, fish larvae were fed 4 times a day and to apparent satiation, commercial feed and live feed. After a 40-day feeding experimental period, all the larvae each aquarium were sampled for and growth determination. Fish larvae in T1, T2, and T3 treatments showed the highest total length, weight and survival rate. Lowest total length, weight and survival rate were recorded in T5 treatment (p<0.05). Also, against challenge tests in T1, T2 and T3 treatments was significantly in comparison with T5 (p<0.05). The results of the present study demonstrate that the Oscar fish larvae could consume commercial feed starting from the 20 without any difference in growth with live food.