The use of the Mediterranean calanoid copepod Centropages typicus in Yellowtail clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) larviculture

In the present study we demonstrated the efficiency of the Mediterranean calanoid copepod Centropages typicus as live prey in Amphiprion clarkii larviculture. After hatching, larvae were divided into two experimental groups as follows: group A (control) fed rotifers followed by Artemia nauplii and group B fed C. typicus nauplii and copepodites. On day 11 post-hatch, larvae fed C. typicus showed better survival and growth compared to those fed a standard rotifer/Artemia diet (90 ± 2 vs 43 ± 2%; 6.6 ± 0.2 vs 6.0 ± 0.2 mm; 5.8 ± 0.3 vs 4.5 ± 0.3 mg, respectively). At a molecular level, a significant increase of insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF I and IGF II) gene expression and a significant decrease of myostatin (MSTN) gene expression were evidenced in group B larvae fed copepods. Considering these results, C. typicus may be recommended as a valuable life prey for A. clarkii larviculture.