Feeding behavior under dark conditions in larvae of sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Mukai, Yukinori and Tuzan, Audrey Daning and Leong, Seng Lim and Yahaya, Syahirah (2010) Feeding behavior under dark conditions in larvae of sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Fisheries Science, 76 (3). pp. 457-461. ISSN 0919-9268 (P), 1444-2906 (O)

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Abstract

Sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus hatch with morphologically immature sensory organs; however, sensory organs develop rapidly with larval growth. Two-day-old larvae commenced ingesting Artemia nauplii. The larvae displayed many taste buds on the barbels, the head surface, and in the buccal cavity. Other sense organs were also well developed at this stage. Feeding experiments revealed that 2-day-old larvae ingested Artemia under both light and dark conditions, moreover, the larvae could ingest frozen dead Artemia. The ingestion rates for 4- and 7-day-old larvae were significantly higher under dark conditions than under light conditions. The rates using frozen dead Artemia were mostly higher than the rates using live Artemia. Therefore, feeding behavior under dark conditions is most likely not mediated by visual or mechanical senses, but rather by chemosensory senses, such as taste buds. Larval fish are vulnerable to predators; thus, if they can search for and eat food at night, they can avoid diurnal predators. The behavior observed here appears to represent their survival strategy. Moreover, these results suggest a new possibility that sutchi catfish larvae can be reared under dark or dim light conditions in order to improve survival and growth rates as in the case of African catfish Clarias gariepinus.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Additional Information:	6616/2127
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Feeding behavior, Larvae, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, Sensory organs
Subjects:	S Agriculture > SH Aquaculture. Fisheries. Angling
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Science > Department of Biotechnology Kulliyyah of Science > Institute of Oceanography and Maritime Studies
Depositing User:	Dr. Yukinori Mukai
Date Deposited:	19 Dec 2011 11:06
Last Modified:	19 Dec 2011 11:07
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/2127

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