The golden domino damselfish (Dascyllus auripinnis) is a popular fish in the aquarium trade and is sought after by ornamental collectors. The commercialization of other damselfish species and the demand from the public is driving the development of production techniques for this species. Significant mortality from starvation is observed during the “first feeding” period, where larvae transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding. Environmental conditions can also influence the identification and capture of prey items, which can contribute to increased mortality in the initial stages of development. Ideal conditions for growth are species-specific and improvements in culture protocols would help to facilitate the commercialization of this species.
To assess the effects of various rearing conditions on the culture of damselfish, manipulations of algae density, copepod species, copepod density, prey type, and photoperiod were evaluated at 0 – 5 days post hatch (DPH), with the duration of the experiment dependent on the parameter. Results from the algal density experiment indicated the greatest survival in the microalgal density 150,000 cells mL-1 of Tisochrysis lutea and in the control, with no significant differences in feeding incidences and growth among treatments. Feeding larvae Parvocalanus crassirostris resulted in significantly higher feeding incidence over Oithona calcarva but had no effect on larval survival of the larvae. Using these results, P. crassirostris was fed at densities ranging from 2.5 - 10.0 nauplii/mL for the copepod density experiment. Feeding incidence and larval growth were not affected by copepod density, but survival was significantly greater in the 5 copepods mL-1 and 10 copepods mL-1 treatments (Figure 1). The prey type experiment tested the inclusion of rotifers at first feeding and resulted in a significantly higher survival in larvae that were fed a 50/50 mix of rotifers and copepods, as well as an equally high survival in the diet of exclusively copepods. The inclusion of rotifers had no effect on initial feeding incidence and growth. A photoperiod of 24-hour light had a significantly higher larval survival and initial feeding incidence. These results contribute to the development of commercial production techniques for D. auripinnis and can provide important insights into larval feeding behavior.