Looky what I stumbled across.....

[oceanarus]

I don't know how much of this some of you may know, but there were a few things I read that were new to me, so I thought I would share.

In 2002-2003, the program's research improved production techniques of live foods for rearing fish larvae using Parvocalanus species, a calanoid copepod without a common name, that had been identified as promising in previous years research. A two-stage system for copepod production was developed using separate nauplius (early life stage) and broodstock production tanks. After experiments with a small, 400 liter, prototype system were successful, it was scaled up to larger 1500 liter and 4000 liter systems useful for mass rearing of fish larvae, resulting in a provisional patent application for these systems. Culture of the Parvocalanus larval food source in outdoor "mesocosm" (semi-natural) tanks was also investigated. Experiments were done using Parvocalanus life-history stages as larval food for flame angelfish, bluefin trevally, and Gulf of Mexico red snapper. Survival rates of trevally and snapper were good, above 10%, but survival of angelfish was less than 1%. Nevertheless, Parvocalanus production for rearing of tropical fish larvae has considerable promise compared to larval foods used by aquaculture in the past. Other research focused on broodstock systems for spawning of flame and Potter's angelfish, popular species in the ornamental aquarium fish trade, and on the effects of diet on broodstock of flame angelfish and of amberjack, a species of considerable interest for offshore aquaculture. Construction of a 19-tank system for spawning of angelfish began and should be used for research in 2004. Experiments on the effects of various foods for spawning pairs of angelfish and for spawning groups of amberjack began. Feeding experiments for the angelfish are preliminary and results should be available in 2004. Feeding experiments for amberjack resulted in mixed results; a raw-food diet resulted in slightly improved growth rates compared to artificial foods, but bacterial infections appeared in fish fed raw foods. Egg production and larval survival resulting from adults fed with both types of food were low, and more research on broodstock foods needs to be done to improve amberjack production. Results of the program's research were presented at several national and international conferences, and several manuscripts are currently in review for publication in scientific journals.

 

[StephenH]

That's out of a Oceanic Institute or CTSA report (nearly one in the same). Robin Shields who did the best copepod work has gone back to Scandanavia - a real loss to the ornamentals biz.

There was a copepod culture workshop last week in Hawaii which included:
a presentation on species and culture methods by Dr. Petra Lenz student, Kyle Vanderlugt, of the Pacific Biomedical Research Center. There was then a presentation by Arron Moriwake who works with Karen Brittain at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. They are developing copepod cultures for food fish production, but Karen is closely associated with marine ornamentals as well. Finally, Charles Laidley gave a presentation on the work you summarized above.

Parvocalanus is popular because you can get the nauplii density up to about 10/ml and the nauplii are only 62 microns. Other local species do not seem to get as dense and have larger nauplii. In addition to Parvocalanus, they are working with the calanoids Acartia fossae and Bestiolina similis and the cyclopoid Oithona simplex. All are found in Kaneohe Bay on the windward side of Oahu.

There is some disagreement about the best food for copepod cultures. HIMB uses Nanochloropsis at about 400,000 cell/ml. O.I. uses a mixture of Isochrysis and Chaetocerus at 150,000 cell/ml. Petra Lenz's lab uses Chaetoceros, Rhodomonas or Isochrysus (T.Iso) at 100,000 cell/ml. In the brainstorming session which followed the presentations, we industry representatives told them that they should also evaluate the use of algae paste for copepod production.

steve hopkins

 

[Fredfish]

So, is Parvocalanus something and dedicated hobyist could dabble in or are these guys beyond our limited abilities/resources?

Fred.

 

[StephenH]

Not a big deal. However, you need to think about the nauplii density in culture - 10/ml max when things are working perfectly and more often 2-3/ml max. These maximum nauplii densities occur about a week after innoculation and then rapidly fall off to 0.5/ml as the nauplii die off or become adults. Therefore, you need to have 2-3 cultures and always keep one in the early stages of succession to have nauplii available.

How many nauplii do you need every day to feed the fish larvae? Do the math. This may make your copepod culture facilities 3 to 5 times larger than your larval culture facilities.

When I need them, I grow copepods in 1000-gallon green water continuous cultures and separate the nauplii with a seive. The density is low, but the labor and other costs are almost zilch.

Luis thinks I should go into the copepod starter culture business. I do not think the market is large enough, or the acceptable price high enough, to make it a viable business opportunity. However, I might do it as a one-time thing if there is enough interest. I do not know the rules here so this post might be deleted by a moderator or something.

steve hopkins
raingarden@hawaii.rr.com

 

[oceanarus]

I think this thread is more about furthering hobbyists aquaculture abilities and for that I think any slight comercial mentions should be overlooked.

 

[km133688]

you guys sound smart, good luck with it if you try it.

 

[Luis A M]

Re: Looky what I stumbled across.....

I don't know how much of this some of you may know, but there were a few things I read that were new to me, so I thought I would share.

wow,this thread is warming up!
Oceanarus,you stumbled across a gold mine Thanks for sharing ,some people donÃ"šÃ‚´t have time to search the web and we could lose relevant staff.Could you give the references to track more detailed papers,if any?

 

[Luis A M]

That's out of a Oceanic Institute or CTSA report (nearly one in the same). Robin Shields who did the best copepod work has gone back to Scandanavia - a real loss to the ornamentals biz.

There was a copepod culture workshop last week in Hawaii which included:
a presentation on species and culture methods by Dr. Petra Lenz student, Kyle Vanderlugt, of the Pacific Biomedical Research Center. There was then a presentation by Arron Moriwake who works with Karen Brittain at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. They are developing copepod cultures for food fish production, but Karen is closely associated with marine ornamentals as well. Finally, Charles Laidley gave a presentation on the work you summarized above.

Parvocalanus is popular because you can get the nauplii density up to about 10/ml and the nauplii are only 62 microns. Other local species do not seem to get as dense and have larger nauplii. In addition to Parvocalanus, they are working with the calanoids Acartia fossae and Bestiolina similis and the cyclopoid Oithona simplex. All are found in Kaneohe Bay on the windward side of Oahu.



There is some disagreement about the best food for copepod cultures. HIMB uses Nanochloropsis at about 400,000 cell/ml. O.I. uses a mixture of Isochrysis and Chaetocerus at 150,000 cell/ml. Petra Lenz's lab uses Chaetoceros, Rhodomonas or Isochrysus (T.Iso) at 100,000 cell/ml. In the brainstorming session which followed the presentations, we industry representatives told them that they should also evaluate the use of algae paste for copepod production.

steve hopkins

Steve,
Thanks for the update.There was another Intl.copepod workshop couple of years ago in Hi but I couldnÃ"šÃ‚´t find abstracts or full papers published
Several reports link success in rearing "difficult larvae"with feeding WILD nauplii of Oithona and the 2 paracalanid you mention.I donÃ"šÃ‚´t know if current culture conditions of copepods brings the same results.I hope so,as I am a landlocked hobbyist and my dream of raising angels on cultured cops is less wild than moving to a tropical pristine seashore to run plankton tows.
Could you give links to find more about the workshop?

Regarding algal foods,NAN is considered too small to be taken by a copepod.T-ISO is considered also small,but suitable for nauplii.Most researchers use larger algal cells like RHO and even dinoflagellates.
As for myself,I had kept 2 spp of cal.cops thriving with just T-ISO but I am now feeding hawaian TET,which has larger cells and itÃ"šÃ‚´s easy to culture.

About your suggestion of using pastes,my preliminary work with TET paste,as a food for A.tonsa,was a complete failure.

 

[Luis A M]

So, is Parvocalanus something and dedicated hobyist could dabble in or are these guys beyond our limited abilities/resources?

Fred.

Yes,definitely.I am keeping cultures of Acartia tonsa in gallon jars.I think the other species mentioned could be raised similarly.But donÃ"šÃ‚´t think of them as rotifers,they donÃ"šÃ‚´t have such a high productivity,so you need larger cultures,which means lots of algae,and salts,if you use ASW.

 

[Luis A M]

Luis thinks I should go into the copepod starter culture business. I do not think the market is large enough, or the acceptable price high enough, to make it a viable business opportunity. However, I might do it as a one-time thing if there is enough interest. I do not know the rules here so this post might be deleted by a moderator or something.

steve hopkins
raingarden@hawaii.rr.com [/B]

Well,you wonÃ"šÃ‚´t get millionaire selling cops cultures or biomass,but you can work it as another line of your established business.As I said in my mail,you are in the best position to succeed with it;you have access to wild (or cultured)stocks,you can culture them,and you can ship them to the whole U.S.market.Starter cultures are not cheap.See what they charge for rotifers,Mysis,harp.cops and the like.Your customers would be not only hobbyists,but research labs,aquaculture plants,school and universities, environmental toxicologysts,etc.
I sent you a PM because this is a personal propositon,and your PM at RC is blocked.I reply here since you brought it to the Forum.I donÃ"šÃ‚´t think Frank will find this off limits.There is a commercial forum in the RC,but this is not so far a commercial thing.The future of our hobby needs that most species could be reproduced at home,not only clowns.Culturing cops will be a must,and to have a good source for them is the first step.

 

[FMarini]

Please continue the discussion..... i don't find this off limits, out of bounds, or commercial.

 

[StephenH]

I may regret getting into this thread, but...

An acquaintance in Florida was just promised some wild copepods. I am bogged down in a non-aquaculture project right now and can not get to it until the first of the year. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s not much more trouble to do a bunch of them. So, if anyone else wants some, it will cost you price of shipping, packaging, and a trip to town to run them through agricultural inspection. Send me your name, address and phone number. You can send PayPal for the expenses when I get it together.

Caveats:
1) The species composition of copepods in front of our house changes all the time. I don't know whether itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s caused by temperature, rainfall or chaos - it just changes. What is there on the day(s) I get this together is what you will receive.

2) Parvocalanus is the only one I can identify - and that only because it has a red racing stripe across its back. It is possible/likely that neither you nor I will not know what species you have. If you can keep it in culture, I may be able to turn you on to some people who can identify it for you later.

3) This is going to be wild zooplankton. I will check to make sure there are plenty of copepods, but there will likely be other stuff in there as well. Itââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s up to you to isolate out the copepods if you want a pure culture. Don't come crying to me if you get barnacles setting on your glass or an arrow worm in your larval culture.

steve hopkins
raingarden@hawaii.rr.com

 

[Luis A M]

But can we hope that you set a cultured species collection?

I once received a sample of wild plankton from Waikiki,and the cops,(possibly Oithona or Parvocalanus,I was told)took well to culture.Unfortunately I lose them during a vacation trip.
Incidentally there is another family operated firm in Florida who offers wild plankton.I ordered some but ended with a pure culture of L-type rotifers!

 

[Fredfish]

OK, re-read the thread.

I forgot these are copepods with their low fecundity (sp?). Out of curiosity, how do the adults compare in size to newly hatched brine shrimp?

My thinking is that if this species has a positive impact on survival of hard to raise fish larvae, then perhaps the adults could become a good supplemental food for other larger fry.

I am interested in breeding sea horses and have done a lot of reading over the last 8 months.

Many people experience large die offs at certain stages (can't remember if this relates to specific developmental stages or not). My impression is that there are two issues in survival rates: feeding frequency, nutritional profile of the live food. The traditional offering is newly hatched brine shrimp.

Brine shrimp napulii are not well suited to continuous feeding, at least not in a hobby setup, and do not have the best nutritional profile.

I have seen a seahorse culture system where a small rearing tank was submerged inside a larger culture tank for copepods, with water from the pod culture being pumped into the seahorse culture tank. The culture tank volume looked like it was 3 to 4 times the seahorse rearing tank size.

If I could replace the common garden variety of pods we have in our tanks with something that has a better nutritional profile it might increase survival rates. I realize that equating angel larval survival with a better nutritional profile for seahorses is a stretch at best, but I can hope can't I?

Fred.

 

[Luis A M]

Fred,you can expect to collect 1 nauplius/ml/day.So depending on your desired food concentration,you need several times the larval volume dedicated to culture them.Or you can store the eggs of egg scatterer spp when they are not needed and hatch large quantities when you need them.
Adult size depends of species,but they are larger than bbs and smaller than Cyclopeeze in general.Parvocalanus is the smallest.
The adults can be a good food too,if you can produce enough.Nauplii not eaten in larval tanks will grow to adults in about 9 days.
Todd Gardner found that reidi seahorse fry did much better when fed cops.,even as a fraction of their total diet.

 

[Fredfish]

Thanks Luis, thats good news all around. ... and a little emperical evidence too!

Now I need to organize myself and get set up.

Fred.

 

[trueblackpercula]

I hate to bring an old tread back from the dead but can some tell me what copepod is good for centropyge? and who is selling it?
Thanks
Michael