Replacement of Artemia franciscana Nauplii by Moina minuta Neonates as Live Food on the Larviculture of Angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare -Schultze, 1823) and Severum (Heros severus - Heckel, 1840)

The present study aimed to assess the potential substitution of Artemia franciscana nauplii with Moina minuta neonates as initial feed for angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare) and severum (Heros severus), evaluating fish growth performance, live food cost, intestinal histomorphometry. To achieve this goal, two separate experiments were carried out each species during 20 days, using 200 postlarvae. Both experimental designs consisted five treatments, namely, 100% A. (A100-M0); 75% 25% M. (A75-M25); 50% (A50-M50); (A25-M75); (A0-M100), four replications (10 postlarvae per repetition). Angelfish fed A100-M0, A75-M25, A50-M50, A25-M75 had better values final length (13.31 mm, 14.15 13.32 mm), gain in (7.91 8.75 7.92 length-specific rate (4.51% day−1, 4.82% 4.51% day−1). In case postlarvae, highest performance occurred those A100-M0 (15.86 8.90 4.12% day−1), A75-M25 (15.45 8.49 3.99% A50-M50 (14.78 7.82 3.76% (angelfish postlarvae) presented higher weight (28.88 mg 34.49 mg; 55.84 53.95 mg), (27.56 33.08 51.03 49.14 weight-specific (15.42% day−1 16.30% day−1; 12.26% 12.09% Live cost was (US$ 0.92 US$ 1.08) lower ones A0-M100 0.36 0.35). Severum (57.20 µm), (55.66 (54.27 µm) villi heights. Thus, partial replacement by proportion or 100A-0M is viable effective first these species.