Mass culture of fairy shrimpBranchinecta orientalis(G. O. Sars 1901) (Crustacea: Anostraca) using effluent of rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss(Walbaum 1792) ponds

Abstract

The variable quality and high price of Artemia (Leach 1819) cyst products, used worldwide as live food, motivate aquaculturists to find an appropriate alternative, especially for fresh/brackish water organisms. In this study, Branchinecta orientalis (G. O. Sars 1901), a common fairy shrimp in north‐western Iran, was reared for 15 days using effluent from trout ponds enriched with effluent filtrate as sole feed, or co‐fed with microalgae (Scenedesmus sp.). The effluent filtrate was replaced by algae at different ratios (25% and 50%), and feeding experiments were designed at densities of 100, 200 and 400 individuals/L in 3‐L containers and at 100 individuals/L in 20‐L containers. The results indicated that, at a certain density, the final length and survival were not significantly affected by different feeding regimes (p > .05). In 3‐L containers, the highest length and survival were observed at the lowest density. B. orientalis contained the highest amounts of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids, though, when co‐fed algae, although the differences with the treatment fed solely effluent filtrate were often limited. Inclusion of algae in the diet also resulted in higher levels of a number of PUFAs. Our study proves that B. orientalis can be mass‐cultured successfully using trout effluent as culture medium without additional microalgae. Fish pond effluent is massively available as a cheap food source. Recycling aquaculture effluent for this type of live food production contributes to lowering the use of natural resources and to less discharge of nutrient loads into natural water bodies.

Reproductive performance of fairy shrimpBranchinecta orientalis(G. O. Sars 1901) (Crustacea: Anostraca), fed with effluent of rainbow troutOncorhynchus mykiss(Walbaum 1792) ponds

“…Such advantages can improve the cost/benefit ratio and facilitate the use of this potential source of feed by farmers. Additionally, as part of the suspended materials is recycled as a feed for B. orientalis , using the effluent can decrease the nutrient loads discharged into the environment (Pormehr Yabandeh et al., ).…”

“…The presence of bioflocs in the treatment fed aged non‐supplemented effluent might be the reason of similar performance in terms of reproductive characteristics of B. orientalis compared to the treatment fed fresh effluent supplemented with Scenedesmus sp. Although no proper quantification of bioflocs was performed, they may have contributed to Branchinecta nutrition (Pormehr Yabandeh et al., ). Flocculation in biological systems is a complex process.…”

“…Hence massive amounts of trout farm effluents are readily available as a potential culture medium for fairy shrimp. In a first study (Pormehr Yabandeh, Beladjal, Agh, Atashbar, & Van Stappen, ), initial data were obtained demonstrating that B. orientalis can survive and grow in trout pond effluents. However, their reproductive performance in this environment was not studied.…”

“…Such advantages can improve the cost/benefit ratio and facilitate the use of this potential source of feed by farmers. Additionally, as part of the suspended materials is recycled as a feed for B. orientalis, using the effluent can decrease the nutrient loads discharged into the environment(Pormehr Yabandeh et al, 2017). Resting egg diameter (μm) in all broods of B. orientalis (mean (SD), n = 100 resting eggs), cultured using effluent of rainbow trout ponds, either aged non-supplemented (T1) or fresh supplemented with Scenedesmus sp.…”

Biological Impact of Photoperiod on Fairy Shrimp (Branchinecta orientalis): Life History and Biochemical Composition

“…Several researchers have studied the population dynamics of fairy shrimps under varying environmental conditions (e.g., [7,8]). Meanwhile, reports on the relationship between environmental factors (e.g., temperature and food) and the life history characteristics (e.g., hatching rate, growth performance, average lifespan, survivorship, and fecundity) of B. orientalis are scarce [9,10].…”