Use of Rotifer Chemostats in Aquaculture

Abstract

The ubiquitous rotifer Brachionus plicatilis is one of a few planktonic species that inhabits regions of varying salinity. Because of its adaptability, it is used as a primary food not only for marine, but also for freshwater fish and crustacean larvae (Hirata 1980; Watanabe et al. 1983a; Cruz and James 1989). It is essential that rotifers be cultured at relative high densities to provide an adequate feed supply for hatcheries producing a large number of fingerlings (Kafuku and Ikenoue 1983; James et al. 1983a, b, 1987). The success of a marine fish hatchery, especially during the early larval rearing stages, exclusively depends on the high quantity and quality of live microorganisms such as rotifers (Scott and Middleton 1979; Hirata 1980; Gatesoupe and Luquet 1981; Watanabe et al. 1983; James et al. 1983b, 1987; Rezeq and James 1987; James and Rezeq 1989a).