February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

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FEEDING TRIALS TO IMPROVE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF PALLID STURGEON
Scaphirhynchus albus LARVAE
Jason Ilgen, Matt Toner and Kevin M. Kappenman
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Bozeman Fish Technology Center
4050 Bridger Canyon Road
Bozeman, MT 59715 USA
jason_ilgen@fws.gov
The Pallid Sturgeon Recovery Program determined captive propagation of endangered pallid sturgeon as necessary to recover
the species and state and federal hatcheries are operating to achieve production goals. Hatchery mangers identified initiation
of larvae pallid sturgeon to feed as the most critical rearing period and stated that mortality during this period can determine
hatchery year class strength. The discontinuation of a diet historically used at many hatcheries and the variety of diets used at
other hatcheries exposed a need for information quantified through analytical research on the effects of different commercial,
experimental, and live feeds on survival and growth of larvae pallid sturgeon. We tested the effects of 5 diets (Corey High
Pro and freeze dried cyclopeeze (FDC), Otohime (OTO), Bio Vita, Bio Vita and frozen cyclopeeze, Bio Vita and FDC) on
larvae survival and growth over 60 d in 2007, and 5 diets (OTO, OTO and FDC, OTO and freeze dried Artemia, OTO and
live Artemia, and ARS experimental diet) for 30 d in 2008. In 2007, we determined a diet of OTO produced relatively high
survival (54%) compared to other stand alone diets tested, and found that supplementing Bio Vita with freeze dried cyclopeeze
improved survival (63%) compared to Bio Vita alone (14%). In 2008, we determined that OTO supplemented with freeze dried
cyclopeeze increased survival (92%) compared to OTO alone (72%). Information from this research can improve efficiency
of captive rearing programs by increasing survival, growth, and fish condition and promote recovery of the species.
Figure shows survival results of five test diets in the 2008 trials. Letters indicate significant differences.
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