Influence of food concentration and abiotic parameters on population density growth of the ciliated marine protozoan Euplotes sp. under controlled conditions

High mortality is common when culturing most marine fish larvae, especially during the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding. In aquaculture, many species of marine fish are not able to survive when only fed enriched rotifers and Artemia spp. nauplii. Ciliates are a potential alternative live food organism for first-feeding larvae, because they can grow to high population densities, accept inert diets, and are natural prey organisms of marine fish larvae. The range of culture parameters to optimize population growth of the ciliate Euplotes sp. are unknown. Five experiments were conducted to determine the effects of food concentration and abiotic factors including salinity, aeration rate, temperature and photoperiod on population growth of the ciliate Euplotes sp. Results indicated the optimal ranges for population growth of Euplotes sp. was a temperature between 26 and 32 degrees C, salinities from 20 and 35 g/L, food (Protein Selco (R)) concentrations of 250 and 500 mg/million ciliates, absence of or low aeration (8.5 cm(3)/min) and the photoperiod 0L:24D. Euplotes sp. can tolerate high ammonia and very low dissolved oxygen concentrations, and population growth can occur in these conditions for at least 7 days.