A survey of salinity tolerance of Persian sturgeon larvae (Acipencer persicus) fed with enriched live food containing HUFA and vitamin C

Salinity tolerance in Persian sturgeon larvae (Acipenser persicus) fed with enriched Artemia urmiana nauplii were investigated when exposed to different salinity. For this purpose, cyst of Artemia urmiana hatched and enriched with a commercial emulsion, ICES30/4 supplemented with three levels of vitamin C (10, 20 and 30%) each with 3 replications according to standard condition and fed to Persian sturgeon larvae during 20 experimental days. At the end of this period, total length, weight, lipid, unsaturated fatty acids contents and vitamin C in fish larvae were measured. Fish larvae were exposed to 6, 12 and 18ppt salinity, and salinity tolerance were surveyed after 120h. The results showed that survival percentage as salinity tolerance indicator increased compared to control group that are larvae fed un-enriched Artemia nauplii. ICES40/3 with 20% vitamin C led to the highest salinity tolerance at 12ppt in Persian sturgeon larvae (99±1) but in 18ppt all larvae were died. The increase in salinity tolerance is likely due to omega 3 and 6 increase in fish larvae fed with Artemia enriched with ICES30/4.