Effect of feeding with microcapsules on the content of essential fatty acids in live foods for the larvae of marine fishes

Abstract

Secondary feeding with microcapsules containing a high percentage of total lipids was investigated as a method for increasing the ω3 highly unsaturated fatty acid (ω3 HUFA) content of rotifers and Artemia nauplii to improve their nutritional value for the larvae of marine fishes. Rotifers and Artemia nauplii were found to take up the lipids from the microcapsules. The concentration of ω3 HUFA was higher after secondary feeding for 8 h than for 24 h and 48 h, and the level of ω3 HUFA in the lipids of rotifers was proportional to the level of ω3 HUFA in the lipids of the microcapsules. The difficulty of feeding microcapsules directly to first feeding larvae of marine fishes is discussed. © 1987.