Quality of Six Indian Populations of Artemia franciscana for Larval Finfish Culture

Abstract

We explored the nutritional value to larval finfish of Artemia populations from various geographical locations in India. Cyst and nauplii biometry, hatching percentage, and nutrient content were measured and compared with commercially available San Francisco Bay Brand A. franciscana (SFB). Marakkanam population possessed the smallest cyst and nauplii, followed by SFB. The Nagercoil, Marakkanam, and Mithapur populations had significantly higher carotenoid content in cyst, nauplii, and adult stages compared to SFB. The essential polyunsaturated fatty acid 22:6n-3 was higher in nauplii of the Marakkanam, Nagercoil, Vedaranyam, and Tuticorin populations compared to SFB. Often limiting amino acids such as threonine, leucine, arginine, lysine, methionine, and histidine were observed in higher levels in the nauplii stage than in the cyst and adult stages of Artemia. The Marakkanam and Mithapur populations appeared promising as substitutes for expensive imported Artemia with respect to nutrient and biometric quality indicators.