Weaning of alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) larvae to artificial diets

Growth performance and survival of alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) larvae fed Artemia nauplii, two artificial diets (with different protein content and buoyancy) and a control under starvation at first feeding [5 days after hatching (5 DAH)] were studied. All larvae under starvation (C) died at 10 DAH, while survival was near 60% for the rest of the treatments at the end of the experimental period. By the end of the experimental period morphological variables (total length, snout length, wet weight and dry weight) were better in larvae fed the artificial diets compared to live food. These results were confirmed by means of nucleic acid indexes and digestive enzymatic activity. The importance of the relationship between diet size and snout gape was evidenced from these results. Differences between artificial diets were attributed to different digestibility values. Alligator gar larvae are able to grow and survive satisfactorily when fed artificial diets from the start of exogenous feeding, provided that these have an adequate size, buoyancy and quality.