First feeding of the European hake merluccius merluccius: Influence of light and tank background

Optimal light characteristics are species-specific in aquatic environment. Each species needs a minimal threshold intensity to develop normally and grow, which is probably related to the aptitude to localize and catch preys. The synergistic effect of food availability-day-length appears to be determining at this stage. Long day-length stimulates growth, influences early maturation and improves larval rearing quality. However, a few species are able to develop and grow at very low light intensities or in the absence of light (Boeuf & Le Bailr 1999). In this study we tested feeding efficiency of hake larvae under various light conditions and tank background

First feeding of the European hake Merluccius merluccius: selective preys and prey density

The European hake is a top predator which first feeding preferences are largely unknown, despite being suspected that certain prey species and sizes are preferred. This knowledge is relevant for exogenous hatchery food supply during early life stages of hake, but remains elusive due to the difficulty of maintaining, spawning and harvesting hakes (Iglesias et al. 2010) to properly test its natural diets. Post-hatching early stages of hake are believed to feed at low light intensities associated to the deep water column, so testing parallel experimental designs of light-intensity vs. preys are key to undertake this species’ domestication. We examined in vitro prey preference, prey density and mortality of starved 7-8 DPH hake larvae under 12 zooplankton-based diets

First feeding of the european hake merluccius merluccius: Growth under natural diets and larval fatty acid profile

The European hake is a top predator which first feeding preferences are largely unknown, despite being suspected that certain prey species and sizes are preferred. This knowledge is relevant for exogenous hatchery food supply during early life stages of hake, but remains elusive due to the difficulty of maintaining, spawning and harvesting hakes (Iglesias et al. 2010) to properly test its natural diets. Post-hatching early stages of hake are believed to feed at low light intensities associated to the deep water column, so testing parallel experimental designs of light-intensity vs. preys are key to undertake this species’ domestication. We examined in vitro prey preference, prey density and mortality of starved 7-8 DPH hake larvae under 12 zooplankton-based diets