Determining live prey preferences of larval ornamental marine fish utilizing fluorescent microspheres

As the popularity of marine aquaria grows, the potential exists for increased harvest of marine ornamental fishes and invertebrates from the oceans around the world. Aquaculture may be an alternative source to wild capture fisheries if commercial production protocols can be developed for species of interest, however numerous impediments must be overcome. Experiments were conducted on the reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius), Pacific blue tang (Paracanthurus hepatus), African moony (Monodactylus sebae) and golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) to evaluate and define prey preferences at first feeding among the rotifer, Brachionus plicatiilis, the copepod, Parvocalanus crassirostris, and the ciliate Euplotes sp., by marking each prey with a different colored fluorescent microsphere. Prey preferences observed at the larval first feeding stage were species specific. Pacific blue tang larvae preferred rotifers above ciliates, and ciliates above copepod nauplii. African moony larvae preferred ciliates and nauplii equally over rotifers. Reef butterflyfish larvae preferred ciliates over rotifers and rotifers over nauplii. Golden trevally larvae preferred nauplii over ciliates, and ciliates over rotifers. Take together these data provide critical information which may aid in development of feeding protocols for marine ornamental species.