Effect of selenium-enriched microalgae and rotifers for the efficacious larval survival of Pink Skunk Clownfish, Amphiprion perideraion

Abstract

Selenium is an essential microelement for the normal functioning of fish health. It was reported that selenium-enriched zooplankton has given reasonable survival rates in food fish larvae. However, limited literature is available on clownfish. Hence, the present experiment was designed to improve the assessment of the larval survival of pink skunk clownfish, Amphiprion perideraion, with selenium-enriched microalgae Nannochloropsis sp. Different concentrations of Se [0 (Control), 2, 4, 10 and 50 mg/L] were added to the stock culture of microalgae. For this experiment Walne medium was used at the prescribed level to culture Nannochloropsis sp. In each tank, 100 larvae of A. perideraion (3.5 – 3.8 mm) were stocked immediately, after hatching. The rotifer, Brachionus plicatilis were fed to different groups of selenium-enriched Nannochloropsis sp. and same was introduced in tanks (6 – 8 no./ml). There was no colour change in Se-enriched microalgae at concentrations of 0, 2, and 4 mg/L, whereas the microalgae at 10 and 50 mg/L turned pale after the 3^rd day. Maximum larval survival was observed in 2 and 4 mg/L groups, followed by control and 10 mg/L. However, meagre survival was noticed in 50 mg/L. Early metamorphosis (11^th day) was recorded in the 2 and 4 mg/L groups; in the control group, it occurred after the 15^th day. The present study concluded that selenium-enriched microalgae at specific concentrations are recommended for the larval rearing of pink skunk clown; however, this may also be adopted for other species of clowns.