Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae

Fikri Çağlar Yücel; Mehmet Özbaş

doi:10.33714/masteb.1954251

Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae

Abstract

This study evaluates the growth performance and survival rate of Pethia conchonius (Hamilton 1822) larvae fed microworms (Panagrellus redivivus, Linné 1767) compared with Artemia salina nauplii and granular feed. Fifteen-day old larvae that had completed yolk-sac absorption and an initial Artemia-based prefeeding period (initial mean weight: 0.010 g; mean length: 0.657 cm) were randomly divided into four groups (A. salina nauplii (Group A; control), P. redivivus (Group M), granular feed (Group Y), and P. redivivus + granular feed (Group M+Y). Each group was designed with three replicates; live body weight, total length, specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor were measured at 9-day intervals for a 36-day feeding period. At the end of the experiment, the survival rate remained above 95% in all groups; no statistically significant differences were found between the groups (p > 0.05). The highest live weight was obtained in Group M+Y (0.0948 ± 0.001 g); this value was higher than in the artemia control group (0.0748 ± 0.001 g). Length growth also followed a parallel pattern; Group M+Y reached the highest total length with 1.424 ± 0.008 cm. In the first nine days, Group M+Y and Group A exhibited statistically equivalent SGR (10.171 ± 0.259 and 10.354 ± 0.456 %/day, respectively; p > 0.05); from day 18 onwards, Group M+Y surpassed all other groups. The difference between Group M and Group Y did not maintain its statistical significance throughout the experiment (p > 0.05). These findings reveal that applying a co-feeding protocol of microworms and 150–300 µm granular feed from day 15 onwards in P. conchonius larvae can provide higher growth performance and remove the need for continued Artemia feeding beyond day fifteen. P. redivivus is recommended as a low-cost and sustainable live-feed alternative for the post-larval stage of ornamental fish.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This work was supported by the Mediterranean Fisheries Research Production and Training Institute, Kepez Unit.

Ethical Statement

Since this study was conducted under commercial production conditions, ethical approval is not required.

Thanks

This study was conducted using the support of the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, General Directorate of Agricultural Research and Policies, Mediterranean Fisheries Research Production and Training Institute, Kepez Unit. We would like to thank the institute's managers, researchers, and staff for their support. This paper's results are based on the first author's MSc Thesis.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Aquaculture

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Fikri Çağlar Yücel
0009-0001-7761-3927
Türkiye

Mehmet Özbaş ^*
0000-0001-6277-1095
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

June 24, 2026

Publication Date

June 25, 2026

Submission Date

May 18, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 19, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 15 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1954251

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA77LY24WC

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yücel, F. Ç., & Özbaş, M. (2026). Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, 15(2), 128-141. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1954251

AMA

1.Yücel FÇ, Özbaş M. Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026;15(2):128-141. doi:10.33714/masteb.1954251

Chicago

Yücel, Fikri Çağlar, and Mehmet Özbaş. 2026. “Investigation of Microworms (Panagrellus Redivivus) As an Alternative Live Feed for Pethia Conchonius Larvae”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 15 (2): 128-41. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1954251.

EndNote

Yücel FÇ, Özbaş M (June 1, 2026) Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 15 2 128–141.

IEEE

[1]F. Ç. Yücel and M. Özbaş, “Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae”, Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull., vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 128–141, June 2026, doi: 10.33714/masteb.1954251.

ISNAD

Yücel, Fikri Çağlar - Özbaş, Mehmet. “Investigation of Microworms (Panagrellus Redivivus) As an Alternative Live Feed for Pethia Conchonius Larvae”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin 15/2 (June 1, 2026): 128-141. https://doi.org/10.33714/masteb.1954251.

JAMA

1.Yücel FÇ, Özbaş M. Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026;15:128–141.

MLA

Yücel, Fikri Çağlar, and Mehmet Özbaş. “Investigation of Microworms (Panagrellus Redivivus) As an Alternative Live Feed for Pethia Conchonius Larvae”. Marine Science and Technology Bulletin, vol. 15, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 128-41, doi:10.33714/masteb.1954251.

Vancouver

1.Fikri Çağlar Yücel, Mehmet Özbaş. Investigation of microworms (Panagrellus redivivus) as an alternative live feed for Pethia conchonius larvae. Mar. Sci. Tech. Bull. 2026 Jun. 1;15(2):128-41. doi:10.33714/masteb.1954251