Phospholipids and Protein Balance Improve Larval Nutrition

Since 1995, Reed Mariculture, Inc (RMI) has refined marine microalgae concentrates of traditional algal species for use in commercial aquaculture. The focus has been on producing liquid concentrates that preserve cell structure, nutritional value and functionality.

Phospholipid composition and high quality protein are key benefits of phototrophic microalgae. Typically, over 60% of lipids in these algae are phospholipids, sterols and other membrane lipids that are critical for membrane development. Only 1/3 of lipids are triglyceride oil. Phototrophic algae also have a very high protein to lipid ratio.

In 2008, Reed Mariculture turned their focus to whole-cell algal blends to meet specific nutritional requirements of larval fish and shellfish. N-Rich, RotiGrow rotifer feeds, RotiGreen greenwater, and Shellfish Diet are the products of this new focus.

As understanding of the importance of phospholipids and whole-food nutrition for larval survival developed, they added Otohime Larval Diets from Marubeni-Nisshin, Japan, Fresh Chlorella V-12 from Chlorella Ltd, Inc, Japan and, most recently, Nutremia: a clean, algae gut-loaded, carotenoid-enriched Artemia from Australia to their larviculture line.

All of these products offer the best quality for your hatchery: quality ingredients, rich in phospholipids, and pathogen-free.

Finfish Larviculture

Independent testing[i] shows that rotifers and Artemia fed with protein and phospholipid HUFA-rich marine microalgae concentrates have improved nutritional value in their tissue as well as offering a higher-quality gut-load.

RotiGrow Plus  is a clean, high-yield rotifer feed that maximizes pre-enrichment levels of DHA, EPA and ARA. RotiGrow Plus provides 50 – 100% of the Omega-3 fatty acids needed by the larvae of most marine species – without secondary enrichment.

N-Rich increases Essential Fatty Acid/phospholipid enrichment while maintaining balanced nutrition. The result: rotifers and artemia are healthy and vibrant when fully enriched.

RotiGrow Plus and N-Rich PL Plus: These two products together produce rotifers with a nutritional profile most similar to that of the cobia egg[ii].

* Note: fatty acid units are mg/g dw                       

RotiGreen™:  Larviculture Greenwater is universally accepted as a necessary technique for increasing the health of a variety of marine species, as well as reducing injury, disease and deformity. A recent, peer-reviewed study highlights the effectiveness of the use of Reed Mariculture Nanno 3600 Marine Microalgae paste (now available as RotiGreen Nanno) for greenwater for cobia. The study demonstrates that “live algae can be completely replaced with commercially available, concentrated algal paste without negative impact upon cobia growth, survival, or resultant weanling production per unit volume” during the greenwater stage of cobia larviculture[iv].

Otohime® Larval Fin Fish Diet from Marubeni Nisshin, Japan

This premium Japanese manufactured larval fish diet is recognized as one of the world’s best larval finfish diets. Otohime is made from quality raw materials selected for easily digestible protein and high quality phospholipids to promote the vitality of fish larvae. It has an excellent protein-lipid balance, vitamins and minerals to provide the required nutrients for fish larvae at their initial growth stage, and is specifically formulated for feeding to marine fish. Otohime provides:

• A balanced diet ideally suited to virtually any fin fish species
• Amazing cleanliness with high shape retention in water
• A high percentage of quality Krill Meal for better color-enhancement of fish larvae and higher attractiveness
• β-glucan-containing yeast cell walls for the healthy growth of the fish larvae
• Excellent dispersability on water surface and ideal sinking rate.
  
  

A state-of-the-art material grinder ensures uniformly-sized particles, size ranges available from 75 to 3000 µm.

In the America’s, we’re seeing phenomenal success with cobia, seriola – all marine fish – and many freshwater fish as well.

Top-Dressed Otohime™: Reed Mariculture is improving the exceptional Otohime products even further by offering customized nutritional enhancement. Their new Top-Dressed Otohime is coated with custom blends of nutrients including DHA, ARA, carotenoids, feed stimulants and immuno-stimulants. Specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your fish.

Shrimp Larviculture:

Algae Concentrates: Empirical evidence has shown improvements in carapace development, eye development, and overall survival using microalgae concentrates in conjunction with live algae - as compared to live algae only - during the Zoea and Mysis stages. Reed Mariculture is seeking partners to determine the cost-effectiveness of algae concentrates for shrimp larviculture.

N-Rich provides Essential Fatty Acid/phospholipid enrichment while maintaining balanced nutrition. Fully gut-loaded Artemia have a phospholipid content of 56% of total lipidsⁱ.

Nutremia®, Pure Australian Carotenoid-Enriched Artemia for Prawn Broodstock and Post-Larvae support

Nutremia is whole adult Artemia raised on a nutrient-rich diet of Duniella salina grown in Australian salt water lagoons and fresh-frozen live. Nutremia are rich in carotenoids[v] and amino acids.

Currently, Reed Mariculture is collaborating with the Australian manufacturer to provide Nutremia that meet specific lipid enrichment targets using algal feeds.

Bi-Valve Shellfish Larviculture:

Instant Algae Shellfish Diet® has been used successfully for peak-load and complete live algae replacement in the rearing of oysters and other bi-valve shellfish throughout North America.

Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been feeding only Shellfish Diet to Crassostrea virginica oysters for nearly 7 years now. Their production was minimally effected by the catastrophic oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The use of Shellfish Diet played an important role in their ability to maintain operations.

Reed Mariculture is committed to assuring the best nutrition nature has to offer is available for all commercial aquaculture.