2.3. Experimental larva maintenance
Gentle aeration was supplied in the experimental buckets and increased with the growth of larvae. Daily water exchange rate was from 20% to 100%, increased with the growth of larvae. Freshwater was used to reduce salinity of seawater from 33–35‰ to 20–25‰, which known to be optimal range for larviculture of A. clarkii [11]. Light intensity was controlled at 1000–2000 Lux.
Larvae were first fed on small-type rotifer (Branchiomus species) after enriched by fish oil and green algae Chlorella species. Rotifer density was maintained at 5–10 individuals/mL in the experimental buckets. Rotifer was replaced gradually by artemia nauplii after larvae reached 6 mm total length (TL); post-larvae were fed on artemia nauplii four times each day till the end of the experiment (Section 2.4.3 for details).