A comparative study on the use of different preparations of decapsulated <i>Artemia</i> cysts as food for rearing African catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) larvae

African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) larvae were fed on five preparations of decapsulated Great Salt Lake Artemia cysts: 1) dried (35°C, 6 h) and UV-irradiated cysts; 2) heated cysts (80°C, 10 min); 3) brine dehydrated and UV irradiated cysts; 4) micro-bound diet 1(with intact decapsulated cysts used in diet preparation 1); and 5) micro-bound diet 2 (with crushed and shifted decapsulated diet used in diet preparation 1). The larvae were fed from the first day after yolk-sac resorption (fourth day after hatching). After a 14-d rearing period, larvae fed on dried or heated decapsulated cysts or micro-bound diet 1. Feeding micro-bound diet 2 resulted in a significantly lower average gain in weight as compared to the other groups