EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE ON PRODUCTION OF Moina brachiate AS LIVE FEED FOR Hypophthalmichthys molitrix FRY

The lack of mass culture techniques for Moina brachiate limits its use as a sustainable live feed in aquaculture. Present study was conducted to culture M. brachiate under indoor conditions at different temperatures and use it as live feed for Hypophthalmichthys molitrix fry. The isolated M. brachiate was cultured in the laboratory for 10 days in glass aquaria under two experimental treatments in which water temperature was maintained either at 28.5° ± 1.5 °C (T1) or 23.5° ± 1.5 °C (T2). Chlorella vulgaris was used to feed M. brachiate daily and the feed consumption was regularly monitored. Chemical quality parameters of the water were regularly monitored and kept within suitable range for propagation of Moina. At the end of the culture period, the maximum density of M. brachiate was found in T2 (5.92 individuals/ ml). In T1 (83.05 ± 1.39%) a decrease in density of M. brachiate density was observed compared to its initial count. Consumption of C. vulgaris by M. brachiate was significantly high in T2 compared to T1 (90.54 ± 3.69% and 69.32 ± 11.81% respectively). Cysts of M. brachiate were observed to be formed under drastic environmental conditions with hatching time of 7-8 days under optimum treatment. In the second phase of the experiment, M. brachiate was used to feed H. molitrix fry reared in glass aquaria and resulted in 86.0% survival of fry. The findings demonstrate the significant influence of temperature on M. brachiate propagation and suggest that its culture at 23.5° ± 1.5 °C water temperature with daily feeding of Chlorella vulgaris, can be a viable live feed option for H. molitrix fry in aquaculture. Keywords: Live feed, Feed Consumption, Temperature, Survival rate, C. vulgaris.