Developing larval nutrition protocols for Hogfish, a new candidate for marine finfish aquaculture.

This article focuses on developing larval nutrition protocols for Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus), a large wrasse native to the western Atlantic, as a candidate species for marine finfish aquaculture. The study examined larval digestive tract development and enzyme activity over 45 days posthatch, finding digestive tract maturation by 24 days indicated by increased trypsin and lipase activities and intestinal morphological changes. Two weaning trials showed that enriched rotifers can be fed from 3 to 24 days posthatch before transitioning to a microdiet, minimizing reliance on costly copepod nauplii without compromising larval survival or growth. These findings suggest Hogfish have a relatively brief larval period and are amenable to aquaculture with reduced use of live copepod feeds, supporting their potential for commercial production and stock enhancement.