USE OF BRINE SHRIMP (ARTEMIA) IN THE FEEDING OF STURGEON JUVENILES (ACIPENSERIDAE) (REVIEW)

Purpose. To review scientific sources on the technological and biological characteristics of the use of brine shrimp (Artemia) in the feeding of sturgeon juvenilse (Acipenseridae). To highlight the common biotechnological bases of the enrichment of brine shrimp with biologically active substances necessary for the full development of sturgeon juveniles. Findings. The review of scientific papers showed that the technology is the use of brine shrimp in the feeding of sturgeon speices not only had not lost its relevance in aquaculture, but also continued to evolve in response to new challenges. The review contains a description of the peculiarities of the biological structure of brine shrimp eggs and methods of their quality assessment in the field. It describes the nutritional characteristics of Artemia. It is shown that brine shrimp is the best food organism for the use in the feeding of sturgeon fingerlings. The calculation scheme for Artemia decapsulation and incubation is provided. The main technological stages of of the preparation of shrimps before their use in feeding ? activation, hydration, decapsulation, incubation, dehydration were described. The effect of brine shrimp nauplia enriched with biologically active substances enriched brine shrimp on sturgeon juveniles was highlighted. Practical value. Fish farm owners search for cost-effective, easy to use, and available food that is preferred by sturgeon juveniles (Acipenseridae). Brine shrimp nauplii obtained from cysts can be readil used to feed fish just after one-day incubation. Instar I (the nauplii that just hatched and contain large yolk reserves in their body) and instar II nauplii (the nauplii after first moult and with functional digestive tracts) are more widely used in aquaculture, because they are easy for operation, rich in nutrients, and small, which makes them suitable for feeding fish larvae as live feed or after drying. The generalized information will be important for scientists studying the peculiarities of the feeding of sturgeon juvenile including natural foods. The data on the application of the biotechnology of brine shrimp use for the feeding of sturgeon juveniles will be useful for fish farmers. The importance of the use of Artemia for the feeding of sturgeon juveniles is due to its biological and economic characteristics and is diescribed in the article. The ability of the brine shrimp to produce dormant eggs, known as cysts, facilitated the extensive use of Artemia in aquaculture. The cysts may be stored for long periods and hatched on demand to provide a convenient form of live feed for larval fish. Brine shrimp nauplii constitute the most widely used food item, and over 2000 tonnes of dry Artemia cysts are marketed worldwide annually.