EFFECTS OF DELAYING FIRST FEEDING TIME ON THE SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF LARVAL CHINESE STURGEON, ACIPENSER SINENSIS

The paper deals with the effects of delaying first feeding time on the survival and growth of larval Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis.The larvae start initial feeding at the age of 11-12 days.After the age of 13 days, the larvae live on exterior nutritious materials while the yolk is absorbed absolutely.When initial feeding was delayed less than 10 days, the survival rates of the larvae were between 46.67-73.33 %, and did not show obvious differences with contrast group.However, the survival rate dropped to 13.3% and 0% if the initial feeding was delayed 11 and more than 12 days respectively.In other hand, the growth of the larvae could be the same as the contrast group while the initial feeding was delayed within than 8 days, and was less than the contrast group if the initial feeding was delayed over 9 days.The larvae could survive up to the age of 42 days without feeding.But, if the initial feeding were delayed over 12 days (corresponding with the age of 24 days), the larvae would not be survival in the future.That means the point-of-no-return (PNR) of the larval Chinese sturgeon was at the age of 24 days.