Potential of Fresh Water Rotifer, B.calyciflorus as Live Feed

Rotifers are the most commonly used fresh zooplankton as live feed for fish larvae cultures and an ideal feed source for large quantity fish cultivation. Where in the rotifers are the proper live feed for the early larviculture cause it guarantees faster growth rates, better health and higher survival rates in fish in the later stages of growth and after their release. The freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calciflorus, in the ideal size range of 180-220 microns and with a high potential for reproduction appears to be an ideal live food for several freshwater species. Brachionus calciflorus is one of the strong against environmental stress and to be able to ingest and survive on a diet of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa. Their successful production is hindered by many factors including adequate supply of food at early larval stages which require live food in good quality and quantity. This paper attempts to review the principles and procedures involved in the culture of the freshwater rotifer, Brachionus calyciflorus as starter food for most freshwater fish fry. There are several strains of different sizes of this rotifer, thus making them suitable for fry of a variety of sizes. This rotifer can be isolated, continuously produced by batch culture and feed back culture systems. It can be fortified with diets containing highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) for high survival and overall high growth and performance in several fish species including endangered and some problematic species. In spite of attempts to replace rotifer with more accessible formulated diets they will probably maintain their role as food organism for fish larvae of various species.