The performance of microbial flocs produced with aquaculture waste as food for Artemia

The performance of microbial flocs as food for Artemia, which were produced using waste from a recirculating aquaculture system stocking European eel (Anguilla anguilla), was investigated in an 18‐day feeding trial. Four dietary treatments were used: Chlorella only (diet 1), flocs only (diet 2), and both Chlorella and flocs offered as mixed diets in different proportions (diets 3 and 4). The survival rate of Artemia fed diets 1 and 4 were significantly higher than those fed diets 2 and 3. The survival rate of Artemia fed diet 4 was the highest among the four diets. Individual length (10.02 ± 2.44 mm) and biomass production of diet 3 (3.2 ± 0.40 g L–1) were the highest among the four diets. The crude protein contents for Artemia fed diets 2, 3 and 4 were 591.22 ± 30.15, 580.34 ± 22.42 and 533.27 ± 34.19 g kg–1, respectively, which were significantly higher than that of diet 1 (461.25 ± 10.33 g kg–1). The concentrations of free amino acids and the fatty acid compositions in the four diets were equal, except for the C24:0 content. The highly unsaturated fatty acid concentration of Artemia fed diet 2 was higher than those of the other three diets. It showed that microbial flocs produced from fish waste can be used for Artemia.