Effects of powdered diets on the performance of the planktonic larvae of the sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota

• Published in: Aquaculture international Vol. 33; no. 6; p. 501
• Main Authors: Lin, Zhenhao, Zheng, Ximin, You, Lei, Yu, Weihuan, Wang, Xuanliang, Wu, Jinhui, Yu, Zonghe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01.11.2025; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Algae; Biological fertilization; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chlorella pyrenoidosa; Diet; Feeds; Fish hatcheries; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Growth rate; Holothuria leucospilota; Larvae; Larval development; Larval stage; Life Sciences; Marine invertebrates; Metamorphosis; Phytoplankton; Rhodotorula; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Salinity; Seawater; Software; Sperm; Survival; Variance analysis; Water temperature; Yeast; Zoology; United States > US; Development; Artificial breeding; Sea cucumber; Diet; Larva; Growth
• ISSN: 0967-6120; 1573-143X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10499-025-02200-8

We investigated the effects of partial or complete replacement of conventional feed (live microalgae Chaetoceros muelleri : Saccharomyces cerevisiae  = 3:1) (Group A) with powdered diets, including marine red yeast ( Rhodotorula sp.) powder, Chlorella pyrenoidosa powder, and/or Dunaliella salina powder, on the survival, growth, and development of planktonic larvae of Holothuria leucospilota . Larvae in Group C ( C. muelleri : C. pyrenoidosa : S. cerevisiae  = 2:1:1) had the fastest growth rate, attaining a maximum body length of 862.30 ± 67.11 µm on day 4 (6 days post − fertilization), and entered the doliolaria stage by day 12. This group also had the highest survival rates, with a final survival rate of 90.48 ± 10.03%. In contrast, Groups D, E, and F (supplemented with D. salina ) had slower growth and lower survival rates; Group E ( Rhodotorula sp.: C. pyrenoidosa : D. salina : S. cerevisiae  = 1:1:1:1) had the lowest survival rate (42.86 ± 8.57%). Doliolaria larvae were observed in Groups B ( C. muelleri : Rhodotorula sp.: S. cerevisiae  = 2:1:1), D ( C. muelleri : D. salina : S. cerevisi ae = 2:1:1), E, and F ( C. muelleri : Rhodotorula sp.: C. pyrenoidosa : D. salina  = 1:1:1:1) by day 10, and the proportion of doliolaria larvae was highest in Group E (50.00%). Overall, supplementing conventional feed with  C. pyrenoidosa  significantly enhanced larval growth and survival, and Rhodotorula sp. and  D. salina  advanced larval development. In terms of overall cost and rearing effectiveness,  C. pyrenoidosa  could be added to conventional feed to optimize growth and survival, and Rhodotorula sp. could be supplemented to facilitate metamorphosis.