Production and Enrichment of Chironomid Larva with Different Levels of Vitamin C and Effects on Performance of Persian Sturgeon Larvae

Abstract

Chironomid larvae have a high reproduction capacity. Because of their excellent nutritional quality, they have great potential in larval fish nutrition, specially bottom feeders like sturgeons. In this study, indoor production of Chironomus riparius was performed by controlling the physicochemical factors and developing an appropriate condition for this insect to complete the life cycle. Enrichment of lava was conducted by adding 0 (C0), 100 (C100), or 1000 (C1000) mg of ascorbic acid to 1 kg of chicken manure (as substrate). Ascorbic acid analysis of chironomid larva showed significant differences among the groups: 74.2 μg/g for C0, 325.0 μg/g for C100, and 779.9 for C1000. In the second experiment, enriched chironomids were fed to larval Persian Sturgeon Acipenser persicus and were compared with sturgeons fed live cladocerans, Daphnia, which are regulary used in hatcheries. Length and weight measurements after 14 d of the experimental period showed no significant differences in growth performance. Analysis of ascorbic acid in Persian Sturgeon viscera also showed no significant differences between the groups. In conclusion, chironomids could be cultured indoors and can be enriched to meet the nutritional requirements of fish. We found ascorbic acid did not have a signifucant effect on Persian Sturgeon larval feeding, but longer feeding periods and implication of unfavorable physicochemical conditions or causing stress tests might demonstrate the beneficial effects of this vitamin.

Adaptation of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) to formulated diets: A review

“…Chironomids are high in crude protein content at more than 55% of dry weight (Bogut et al 2007), and they are used widely as pikeperch food and to boost growth performance (Bódis et al 2007, Horváth et al 2013, Hubenova et al 2015. Similarly to other insects, chironomids are poor in vitamin C (Nogales-Mérida et al 2019), so it is important to enrich them with commercial products (Hamidoghli et al 2014a(Hamidoghli et al , 2014b. Despite these advantages, chironomids are relatively large for the small mouth of pikeperch larvae.…”

More than just fish food: ecosystem services provided by freshwater insects

“…A plethora of studies have revealed aquatic insects occurring in the stomachs of freshwater fish with up to 100% frequency and contributing 22% numerically and 76% by biomass (Sangpradub et al, 2014). Important aquatic insects for fish are Chironomidae (Diptera), especially for bottom-feeding fish such as sturgeon (Hamidoghli et al, 2014). Other taxa of note, depending on fish species, are Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) and Heptagenidae (Ephemeroptera) (Jacquemin et al, 2014).…”

“…Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) have a comparable protein content to traditional feed and make an excellent replacement for fishmeal in the fish diets. Chironomids, (Diptera) and particularly C. riparius, provide excellent nutritional quality and their high reproductive capacity means they can be cultured and used as livestock feed for farmed fish (Bogut et al, 2007;Hamidoghli et al, 2014). Aquatic Diptera have been shown to have a similar amino acid profile to fishmeal albeit a different fatty acid content (Barroso et al, 2014).…”

“…Important aquatic insects for fish are Chironomidae (Diptera), especially for bottom-feeding fish such as sturgeon (Hamidoghli et al, 2014). Other taxa of note, depending on fish species, are Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera) and Heptagenidae (Ephemeroptera) (Jacquemin et al, 2014).…”

Improved Chironomid Barcode Database Enhances Identification of Water Mite Dietary Content

“…The biomass of chironomids Diversity 2022, 14, 65 2 of 20 is so great that, at times, they may be considered pests [3]. Chironomids have been used as biological indicators of aquatic health [4,5] and cultured as fish food [6].…”