title: The Complete and Updated "Rotifer Polyculture Method" for Rearing First Feeding Zebrafish.
abstract: The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is a model organism of increasing importance in many fields of science. One of the most demanding technical aspects of culture of this species in the laboratory is rearing first-feeding larvae to the juvenile stage with high rates of growth and survival. The central management challenge of this developmental period revolves around delivering highly nutritious feed items to the fish on a nearly continuous basis without compromising water quality. Because larval zebrafish are well-adapted to feed on small zooplankton in the water column, live prey items such as brachionid rotifers, Artemia, and Paramecium are widely recognized as the feeds of choice, at least until the fish reach the juvenile stage and are able to efficiently feed on processed diets. This protocol describes a method whereby newly hatched zebrafish larvae are cultured together with live saltwater rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) in the same system. This polyculture approach provides fish with an "on-demand", nutrient-rich live food source without producing chemical waste at levels that would otherwise limit performance. Importantly, because the system harnesses both the natural high productivity of the rotifers and the behavioral preferences of the fish, the labor involved with maintenance is low. The following protocol details an updated, step-by-step procedure that incorporates rotifer production (scalable to any desired level) for use in a polyculture of zebrafish larvae and rotifers that promotes maximal performance during the first 5 days of exogenous feeding.
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital; christian.lawrence@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors: Christian
authors: C
authors: Lawrence
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Best
authors: UQ Biological Resources, University of Queensland.
authors: Jason
authors: J
authors: Cockington
authors: Reed Mariculture.
authors: Eric C
authors: EC
authors: Henry
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors: Shane
authors: S
authors: Hurley
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors: Althea
authors: A
authors: James
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Lapointe
authors: Aquatic Resources Program, Boston Children's Hospital.
authors: Kara
authors: K
authors: Maloney
authors: Aquatics Lab Services.
authors: Erik
authors: E
authors: Sanders
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001156:Artemia; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development; D012403:Rotifera / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*