Effects of a peroxide-based commercial product on bacterial load of larval rearing water and on larval survival of two species of Sparidae under intensive culture: preliminary study.

Larvae of two Mediterranean Sparidae species, Sparus aurata and Dentex dentex, were used to test the efficacy of a peroxide-based product (Ox-Aquaculture©) on the reduction in bacterial load in larval rearing water and its effects on larval survival. Eleven-day-old S. aurata larvae and 15-day-old D. dentex larvae were exposed to different concentrations of Ox-Aquaculture© (50, 100 and 200 mg L−1, and 20 and 50 mg L−1 respectively) for 1 h. Results indicated that 50 and 20 mg L−1 were the most effective concentrations for the reduction in bacterial load (at least one order of magnitude) after 1 h treatment, without affecting larval survival and/or vitality in 11 dph S. aurata and 15 dph D. dentex larvae respectively. Ox-Aquaculture© concentrations of 200 and 50 mg L−1 during 1 h affected negatively final survival rate of the larvae of S. aurata and D. dentex respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]