PERCENTAGES OF COOLED Artemia sp. NAUPLII LARVICULTURE OF PACAMÃ Lophiosilurus alexandri

The pacamã Lophiosilurus alexandri is an endemic species of the basin of the São Francisco River, and has a sedentary behavior and with a carnivorous feeding habit. The Artemia sp. nauplii are an important food for breeding fish larvae of marine and freshwater environments. This study aimed to evaluate the different percentages of cooled Artemia sp. nauplii in pacamã larvae feeding. The larvae were submitted to different percentages: A10 (10% Artemia sp. body weight day^-1), A40 (40% Artemia sp. body weight day^-1), A70 (70% Artemia sp. body weight day^-1) e A100 (100% Artemia sp. body weight day^-1), and provided four times a daily.  The experiment was conducted during 21 days. Pacamã larvae were distributed in 5 L - aquariums at density of 50 fish aquarium^-1. The body weight, standard length, total biomass, weight gain, feed conversion and Fulton´s condition factor were evaluated by the biometric data collection. The water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, alkalinity and ammonia were measured at 1^st, 7^th, 15^th and 21^st days of experiment. It was found that as higher the supply of cooled Artemia sp. as greater the productive performance of pacamã larvae, without being affected water quality. The cold Artemia sp. nauplii are suitable for pacamã larvae feeding.