LARVICULTURA E DESENVOLVIMENTO GONADAL DE Trachelyopterus galeatus (LINNAEUS 1766) (SILURIFORMES: AUCHENIPTERIDAE) EM LABORATÓRIO: COMPREENSÃO SOBRE A REPRODUÇÃO E CRESCIMENTO PARA CONSERVAÇÃO DA ESPÉCIE

Abstract

The Bagrinho (Trachelyopterus galeatus) is endemic species of the Neotropical region, widely distributed in South America. It has considerable potential for fish farming in several regions of Brazil, especially in Baixada Maranhense, 9nly9 its meat is highly valued. Because of this, there is evidence that this species is in a state of overfishing in this region, 9nly9 natural stocks are suffering from constant withdrawals to supply the meat trade and fish farmers. However, there is little information regarding food management in the larval stage that can guide fish farmers in the most appropriate management. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of inert diets, live foods (with and without microalgae) and their combinations on the weight, survival, final biomass and larval development of T. galeatus. 1,400 larvae were used with ® initial weight of 5.20 ± 0.00056 mg and initial length of 7.56 ± 0.51 mm. Feed with 55% crude protein was used for inert diets and their combinations, and Artemia franciscana nauplii for live food diets with and without enrichment with microalgae (Thalassiosira sp. and Haematococcus pluvialis). The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design, with seven treatments and four replications: larvae without food (starvation), used as control; only commercial dry food; Artemia nauplii (A); Artemia nauplii enriched with the microalgae Thalassiosira sp. (AT); Artemia nauplii enriched with the microalgae H. pluvialis (AH); feed with Artemia nauplii enriched with the microalgae Thalassiosira sp (R-AT) and feed with Artemia nauplii enriched with the microalgae H. pluvialis (R-AH). The results showed that the combinations with feed and live food enriched with microalgae significantly influenced the average final weight, biomass gain, final biomass, survival and morphometric data of the larvae. However, the supply of feed alone had low effectiveness in growth performance, indicating the unfeasibility of larviculture of T. galeatus.