Studies on experimental culture of a marine ciliate Fabrea salina

Abstract

Studies were conducted on the culture of a marine ciliate, Fabrea salina in the laboratory condition. Three types of inert feed; commercial yeast, fermented wheat bran and fermented rise bran were tested to study their suitability as artificial feed. Fermented rice bran gave better result as compared to yeast and fermented wheat bran. Maximum density of 65 individuals/ml were obtained with rice bran (moderate concentration 0 ppm). The effect of salinity and temperature on growth and survival of the ciliate was also obtained. F. salina was observed to tolerate wide range of salinity (30-90 psu) and temperature (22-35 degrees C). The ciliate reproduces very well at 28 degrees C and 50-70 psu salinity. During mass culture experiments in 40 litre jars 58-60 individuals/ml or 0.44 million individuals were produced by the end of 5th day