Predation on pirarucu larvae by opportunistic fish species

ABSTRACT One of the constraints in pirarucu, Arapaima gigas farming is reproduction captivity, due to inconsistent number spawning events per reproductive cycle, thus, unreliable availability juvenile fish. This a first-hand report on predation pirarucu larvae by opportunistic fish species breeding pond. Fish samples were collected for stomach content analysis from pirarucu-breeding pond with reported larvae. We obtained 61 different (Tetragonopterus sp., Astyanax bimaculatus, Moenkhausia intermedia, Hoplias malabaricus, and Apistogramma sp.). Tetragonopterus sp. stomachs had highest frequency occurrence (83.3%), followed A. bimaculatus (7.4%). The relationship between feeding behaviour these their upon offspring discussed.