Growth of Artemia franciscana fed Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros muelleri during its early life stages

Survival, growth (length and weight), development, proximate composition, and energy content of Artemia franciscana fed for 7 days with Isochrysis sp. (TISO) or with Chaetoceros muelleri (CHGRA) were compared to evaluate the food value of these microalgae. Mean daily survival was not significantly different, and ranged from 86% to 93%. Diet-related differences in growth were noted from the third day, and mean final dry weights (DWs) were 171 and 327 (mu)g ind-1 for Artemia fed TISO and CHGRA respectively. Rates of development were different between diets, with a higher developmental index for Artemia fed TISO before day 3, and a higher index for Artemia fed CHGRA for the rest of the experiment. Chemical analysis showed that carbohydrates decreased to approximately 35% of the initial value in Artemia during the first 24 h, after which they remained approximately stable and similar with both diets. In percentage of total DW, lipids and proteins remained close to their respective initial values, but A. franciscana fed TISO had a higher ash content. A major difference between the two microalgae was the higher protein content of TISO, but this did not result in better growth. Of the two, TISO was richer in docosahexaenoic acid, which might explain the initial faster development, but CHGRA was a better source of eicosapentaenoic acid, which is the most probable explanation of the higher food conversion index, specific growth rate, and energy gain of A. franciscana fed this algae.