ABSTRACT
In Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) the carbon content decreased by 11% during hatching, which occur at a very early developmental stage in halibut. These losses can be related to the loss of chorion and perivitelline fluid. During the yolk sac stage, which lasts from hatching until the onset of first feeding (210–250 °day), the carbon content decreased by 30–45%, as a result of endogenous utilization of the yolk. At the transfer from endogenous to exogenous feeding, the carbon content of the larvae varied between 350–450 μg carbon larvae−1.
The biomass of the larvae continued to decrease the first 5 days after offering live food. The growth is dependent of the rearing temperature, and at a temperature of 12–13°C, the average specific growth rate was 0.11±0.02 day−1 from day 15–40 post-feeding, with a feeding regime consisting of algae, rotifers and Artemia enriched with emulsions high in ω3 HUFA. Onwards day 40 the growth rate declined somewhat, and at the time of metamorphosis and weaning (day 70–85, at 12–13°C) the larval biomass was about 30 mg carbon.
