Survival, growth and feeding in early life stages of European sea bass (<i>Dicentrarchus labrax</i>) intensively cultured under different stocking densities
Two experiments were conducted in triplicate in order to study the effect of stocking densities on survival (highlighting sibling cannibalism), growth and feeding of intensively cultured sea bass larvae (50, 100, 150 and 200 fish l(-1)) and post-larvae (5, 10, 15 and 20 fish l(-1)). Experimental populations were reared under controlled conditions in 50-l cylindroconical tanks. Dead fish were counted daily and classified into cannibalised and non-cannibalised. Total length and weight were measured weekly. Results indicate that stocking density did not affect survival and growth of larvae. No cannibalistic phenomena were observed at this stage. On the other hand, survival of post-larvae was higher at 5 and 10 fish l(-1) than at 15 and 20 fish l(-1), while growth performance fluctuated between the lowest value recorded in the group of 10 fish l(-1) and the highest value in that of 5 fish l(-1). Feed intake in post-larvae was independent of stocking density. Cannibalism was the main cause of death in post-larvae. Two types of cannibalism were detected: type I, attack from tail (observed at the beginning of this stage) and type II, attack from head (observed at the end of the stage)