Culture of Rotifer (Brachionus rotundiformis) and brackishwater Cladoceran (Diaphanosoma celebensis) for aquaculture seed production

The intensive larval culture of fish and crustacean larvae requires live food at the onset of exogenous feeding. Their survival during this critical stage depends largely on the reliable and sustained supply of zooplankton. Rotifers are zooplankton most commonly used to feed larval fish and crustacean in hatcheries around the word. They are euryhaline, small, slow swimming, easily digested, and high in nutritional value or can be further nutritionally enriched using supplements (emulsions). Two of the best known strains of rotifer were initially thought to be morphotypes of Brachionus plicatilis, and were referred to as the “large” (L) and 'small” (S) types. However, it was later established that these are actually two different species with the “large” being B. plicatilis and the “small” being B. rotundiformis. This manual deals on the biology and mass culture techniques of the brackishwater 'small' type or B. rotundiformis. Additionally, this publication includes information on the culture of the less used zooplankton, the brackishwater cladoceran (water flea), Diaphanosoma celebensis; and later describes the procedure of the collection of copepods from the wild. Both these zooplankton can be used as complete or replacement for the expensive Artemia nauplii. Even as this manual is a product of SEAFDEC/AQD’s long and extensive research on zooplankton culture, we will continue to develop and improve the culture techniques of these established zooplankton species. We will also continue to search for new species or local strains of zooplankton, study their biology, and develop the techniques for their mass production. We hope that this manual will be helpful to our stakeholders, especially the operators of hatcheries for marine aquatic species. Likewise, teachers and students of fishery schools would find this manual as a useful source of important information on zooplankton biology and culture.