Breeding and life cycle of the ornamental freshwater shrimp Neocaridina davidi in a biofilm-based culture system.

PÉREZ JONATAN GABRIEL; FLORENCIA BELÉN VEIRA; VERÓNICA ELIZABETH VIAU; PABLO ANDRÉS FRACAS; LAURA SUSANA LÓPEZ GRECO; TOMAS ANA LAURA; ITZICK VATNICK

AQUACULTURE RESEARCH

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: Londres; Año: 2020 vol. 51 p. 3847 - 3864

1355-557X

Neocaridina davidi is a popular shrimp in the aquarium industry; however, informationregarding its husbandry is scarce. In this study, we investigated the contributionof biofilm to its life cycle, comprising three successive phases: (1) the evaluationof biofilm growth on plastic nets (PN), plastic sheets (PS) and agrovelo (AV); (2) thereproduction of adult shrimp to get juveniles (JI); and (3) the effects of biofilm onthe survival and growth performance of JI. Trials were performed in aquaria withzero water exchange and natural environmental conditions. Biofilm was composedmainly of microalgae, diatoms, cyanobacteria, and ciliates and used as the sole diet.Survival, biomass, and biochemical reserves of JI reared in this culture system weresignificantly higher in the presence of PN and AV substrates. The occurrence of ovarianmaturation and egg incubation of female shrimp in these treatments indicate thatbiofilm supplied the energy required for somatic growth and fecundity. Harvestedfemales also displayed the size and the red pigmentation associated with premiumpricing. Based on these results, it is concluded that N. davidi can complete the lifecycle and display characteristic life-history traits in a low-cost biofilm technologysystem without losing economic value as ornamental species.