Effect of bio-organic fertilizer and agro-industrial residue on the growth and reproduction of cyclopoid copepod, Oithona rigida (Giesbrecht, 1896)

Production of live feed for larval development of aquatic species is crucial in the aquaculture industry. The cultivation of cyclopoid copepod, Oithona rigida can enhance the growth performance and nutritional quality of fish and crustacean larvae. Hence this study was conducted to evaluate the different dietary regimes containing swiftlet waste, soybean meal, rice bran and microalgae (Nannochloropsis sp.) on the growth and productivity of O. rigida. The results showed that rice bran and Nannochloropsis sp. additives produced the best outcomes in terms of specific growth rate (0.109±0.002 and 0.104±0.001 day -1) of O. rigida., protein content (66.83±2.25 and 72.08±2.02%), and lipid content (21.98±1.41 and 18.09±1.18%) respectively. A mixture of rice bran and Nannochloropsis sp. (41.62%) as dietary additives also improved the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) content of O. rigida as compared with mono diet applied such as rice bran (28.16%) and Nannochloropsis sp. (31.35%). The use of rice bran as food additives for O. rigida has shown a comparable result with the Nannochloropsis sp., in terms of the growth, survival, reproduction and dietary value. Thus, rice bran and Nannochloropsis sp. was marked as the best feeding regime for the cyclopoid copepod, O. rigida as potential characteristics for mass culture in aquaculture hatcheries.