Dietary supplementation with the microalgae Parietochloris incisa increases survival and stress resistance in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) fry

Dietary enrichments with the arachidonic acid (ARA)-rich microalga, Parietochloris incisa, on the survival of guppy (Poecilia reticulata) fry were examined. Diets were applied via Artemia enrichment to fish from two commercial farms for 34 and 36 days of experimental period (trials 1 and 2, respectively). In trial 1, Artemia nauplii were enriched with dry biomass of whole algal cells at 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mg mL−1. Fry fed with Artemia enriched with 0.4 mg mL−1 demonstrated the lowest mortality rates (24% and 1% in farms 1 and 2, respectively) compared with controls (36% and 13% in farms 1 and 2, respectively). In trial 2, fry were fed with Artemia, enriched with whole algal cells (0.4 mg ml−1), algal hexane extract (HE; containing primarily ARA-rich triacylglycerols and β-carotene; 0.19 mg ml−1) or the extraction residue (0.28 mg ml−1). Acute stress (5 min air exposure) was applied after 18 days. The lowest mortality was recorded in the whole alga-fed group (av. 26% and 2.6% in farms 1 and 2, respectively), with a slightly, but not significantly higher mortality in the HE-fed group (av. 29% and 6.2% in farms 1 and 2, respectively). Elevated lysozyme was associated with the reduced mortality. Overall, the use of P. incisa as a dietary supplement for guppy fry during their first month of life enhanced their survival and stress resistance.