Food selectivity of seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus larvae fed different sizes of rotifers

Abstract

  We investigated feeding selectivity on different sizes of rotifers (lorica length 90-241 μm) of seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus larvae. Larvae ranging from 2.0 mm in standard length (SL, first feeding) to 3.0 mm SL positively selected 101-160 μm rotifers, while larvae ranging from 3.0-4.0 mm SL selected 121-180 μm rotifers. Fish bigger than 4.0 mm SL showed a preference for over 160 μm rotifers. In seedling production of this species, small-sized rotifers (<160 μm) are necessary during the first feeding (<3.0 mm SL), and large-sized rotifers (≧160 μm) are appropriate for larvae bigger than 3.0 mm SL.