An experiment was carried out to evaluate the influence of the period of co-feeding on survival and growth of Betta splendens larvae. The following strategies for co-feeding were used: continuous fasting, 18 days of inert diet, 4 days of co-feeding + 14 days of inert diet; 8 days of co-feeding + 10 days of inert diet; 12 days of co-feeding + 6 days of inert diet, nauplii of Artemia throughout the experiment period. The values of performance variables for larvae with 12 days of treatment for co-feeding + 6 days of inert diet and the nauplii treatment with Artemia were higher than the other treatments, except for survival, which did not differ significantly from the treatment with 8 days of co-feeding + 10 days of inert diet. Considering only the supply time for Artemia (in days) the regression equation was obtained for the variables analyzed. The survival and specific growth rate (SGR) showed a quadratic effect and other variables showed a linear effect. The point of maximum survival was 21.7 days (88.92%) and for SGR it was 26.2 days (23.47 % day-1). The co-feeding period influences the survival and growth of the Betta splendens larvae. After the period of 19 days of supply of live food, with 12 days of co-feeding, larvae can be fed exclusively on inert diet, without negative effects on growth and survival.
ornamental fish; Betta splendens; fish hatchery; co-feeding; weaning
