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Email the author (Login required) Progress in farming of Chilean silverside Basilichthys microlepidotus Jenyns, 1841: an alternative for productive diversification
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3856/vol44-issue2-fulltext-15
Abstract
This work describes the progress made in farming of Chilean silverside (Basilichthys microlepidotus), on the basis of broodstock captured in 2012 in the Mataquito River. A total of 179 individuals (adults and juveniles) were captured using a fishing rod fitted with a hook. The broodstock were transported to IFOP´s Experimental Center in Huihue-Chiloé for reproductive conditioning. Following a period of 18 months, the individuals distributed in different farming units reached the gonad maturation stage and spawned naturally. The eggs collected hatched after remaining 16 days in incubation under laboratory conditions. The group of newly hatched larvae displayed lengths around 8.0 ± 0.2 mm, reached lengths close to 18.5 ± 2.8 mm, 30 days of culture (post-hatching). Larvae harvesting took place in tanks with filtered and sterilized freshwater. The reabsorption of the vitelline vesicle was followed by digestive tract development, stage at which the larvae started to be fed with live food (Artemia nauplii), complemented with a commercial feed supplement. The growth of the larvae was described until 45 days post-hatching and following 266 days of culture, close to 45% of the larvae reached the juvenile stage (11.3 ± 2.6 cm). This paper deals with aspects related to larvae survival and the introduction of improvements to streamline larvae and juvenile production in order to upscale the culture of this species at the commercial level (aquaculture diversification), in addition to exploring the possibility of carrying out repopulation programs with juveniles.
