Natural food production for aquaculture: Cultivation and nutrition of Chironomid larvae (Insecta, Diptera)

In this study, we did not prepared fly room and obtained flies egg from environment (as amixture of species). A number of 10 trays with 120 cm2 scale filled with 2–3 cm dechlorinate tap waterwere used. Trays were located in special places with electrical lamp on the top of them at night. Flieshave positive phototropism so that high number of adult flies were attracted by light. After night, atmorning, trays were transferred to the incubation room. Eggs are macroscopic and visible. Incubationroom has tanks with 20 liters capacity that filled with water up to 15 cm of tank height. All trays waterwith eggs was transferred to the tanks. Base of tanks was covered with small gravel. After 1-2 days at18-28°C, eggs would be hatched and about 2300 larvae would be produced. After eggs hatching,feeding step would be start. We used bakery yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) as food. We mixed0.2g of yeast with 1 liter water and this blend was used for one week. Incubation tanks were aeratedcalm; air stones were used for aeration because of the need of significant allocation of oxygen to thewater. At collection of insect larvae, air stone has to be removed from the breeding tank. After 11–12days ‘worms’ were collected with net and used as live food for Huso huso. Red color of this ‘bloodworm’ attracts fish larvae which eat it with the specific appetite. In some cases, for high densityproduction, a fly room is necessary and this can be prepared with wood and net. In this way larvaeproduction is possible all year long.