Subcategories

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  Incubators

  1. Vertical Flow Incubators (or Zoug Incubators)
     These cylindrical incubators allow constant water flow from bottom to top, keeping the eggs suspended.
     Advantages:

  • Very good oxygenation of the eggs

  • Easy removal of waste and dead eggs

  • Space-saving
    Use: Ideal for salmonids (trout, salmon), widely used in intensive aquaculture.

  2. Static Basket Incubators
     Eggs are placed in perforated baskets or trays, stacked in a water tank with controlled flow.
     Advantages:

  • Easy to handle

  • Easy visual monitoring of eggs

  • Suitable for small-scale setups
    Use: Common for freshwater species like tilapia or catfish.

  3. Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
     Water is filtered and reused in a closed-loop system, while maintaining optimal conditions (temperature, oxygen, pH).
     Advantages:

  • Significant water savings

  • Very precise control of parameters

  • Less pollution
    Use: Suitable for all farming phases, especially in modern and sustainable facilities.

  4. Traditional Methods
     Use of jars, simple tanks, or local materials for incubation, with manual monitoring of parameters.
     Advantages:

  • Low cost

  • Accessible in rural areas or pilot projects
    Disadvantages:

  • Less control over oxygenation and pathogens
    Use: Common in small farms or in developing countries

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  Hatching substrates

  Spawning Substrates in Aquaculture

  Spawning substrates are materials or devices used in aquaculture to promote fish reproduction by providing a suitable place for egg deposition. They are selected based on the reproductive behavior of the species (free spawning, adhesive eggs, cavity spawning, etc.).
  Common types of substrates include:

  • Synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon fringes): Mimic aquatic plants; ideal for fish that spawn in suspension like carp.

  • Tiles, bricks, or PVC pipes: Used for species that seek cavities, such as catfish or bottom-dwelling fish.

  • Gravel or natural substrates: Suitable for species that lay eggs on the bottom, such as trout.

  • Coconut mats or floating nets: Used in ponds or floating cages, easy to handle.

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  Hatchery equipment

  1. Water Quality Measurement and Control Instruments

     • Thermometers and pH meters: Continuously measure the temperature and pH, which are critical parameters for embryonic development.

     • Oximeters and conductivity meters: Allow for monitoring the dissolved oxygen level and conductivity, thereby ensuring an optimal environment for egg growth.

  2. Egg Handling and Transfer Tools

     • Fine nets and transfer spoons: Facilitate the delicate movement of eggs without damaging them.

     • Appropriate supports and baskets: Help position and distribute the eggs evenly to maximize the chances of successful hatching.

  3. Dosage Devices for Targeted Treatments

     • Dose pumps or automatic injectors: Enable the precise addition of antifungal treatments, mineral supplements, or parameter correctors into the hatching water to prevent infections and stabilize the environment.

  In summary, the small-scale hatchery equipment comprises a set of specialized tools, each playing a crucial role in maintaining optimal conditions for embryonic development. Although compact, these devices are essential to ensure close monitoring and rapid intervention in the event of anomalies, thereby maximizing egg survival rates and the quality of fry at hatch.

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  Trieurs d'oeufs

  🔍 Interest of Egg Sorters in Aquaculture

  1. Improved Survival Rate:
     By separating fertile eggs from non-viable ones (dead, sterile, or damaged), egg sorters help reduce contamination by fungi or bacteria, which could spread to all eggs during incubation.

  2. Optimized Incubation:
     By keeping only healthy and viable eggs, the efficiency of incubators is maximized, improving the overall yield of hatcheries.

  3. Time and Labor Savings:
     Manual egg sorting is time-consuming, tedious, and unreliable at large scales. Automated sorters increase speed, precision, and reduce the need for human intervention.

  4. Quality Control and Traceability:
     Some sorting systems allow data recording on egg batches, facilitating health monitoring and breeder selection.

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  ⚙️ Functioning of Egg Sorters

  Egg sorters can operate based on different principles, but here are the most common technologies:

  1. Optical / Vision Sorting

     • Principle: A camera or optical sensor inspects each egg individually.

     • Evaluation Criteria: color, transparency, presence of an embryo, size, shape.

     • Advantages: highly precise, fast, ability to sort by multiple classes.

  2. Floatability Sorting

     • Principle: Eggs are immersed in a solution with a specific density. Viable eggs sink (denser), while dead eggs float.

     • Advantages: simple and effective method, often used as a pre-sorting step before optical sorting.

  3. Mechanical Sorting (less common for fragile eggs)

     • Principle: Sorting by size or weight using grids, sieves, or rollers.

     • Usage: sometimes used to separate eggs of different species or sizes.

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  🧪 Example of Use in a Trout Hatchery

  1. Collection of fertilized eggs after controlled reproduction.

  2. Early incubation for a few days to allow non-fertilized or dead eggs to be visually differentiated.

  3. Passing through the optical sorter, which eliminates white (dead) eggs and keeps translucent (viable) eggs.

  4. Storage of sorted eggs in water-controlled incubators.

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  Fry feeding

  Feeding Systems for Fry in Aquaculture

  Feeding systems for fry in aquaculture play a crucial role in managing nutrition and promoting the growth of young fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic species. These systems are specifically designed to meet the feeding needs of fry by optimizing the distribution of live or inert feed. Here’s a description of the main feeding systems used in aquaculture for fry rearing:

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  1. Automated Feeding Systems

  These systems are increasingly used for feeding fry in aquaculture. They allow precise quantities of food to be distributed at regular intervals. Key features include:

  • Programming and control: An integrated programmer controls the feeding schedule and the quantity of feed distributed according to the fry's nutritional needs.

  • Uniform distribution: Automated systems ensure a consistent distribution of feed, which is crucial for the regular growth of young fish.

  • Types of feed: They can distribute live food (such as rotifers or Artemia) or inert feed, depending on the fry's developmental stage.

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  2. Live Feed Distributors

  Fry, especially in their first few weeks of life, require live feed rich in nutrients. Live feed distributors are designed to provide:

  • Continuous feeding: These systems can operate continuously to maintain a constant supply of live organisms like Artemia or rotifers.

  • Technologies: They often use pumps and pipes to distribute the live organisms throughout the tanks, while maintaining a stable environment.

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  3. Weighed Feeding and Manual Control Systems

  Although automated systems are popular, some farmers prefer manual systems for more direct control. This type of system involves:

  • Precise weighing of rations: The food quantities are weighed and distributed manually into the tanks.

  • Flexibility: These systems offer great flexibility but require more labor and can be less efficient than automated systems.

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  4. Constant Flow Feeding Systems

  These systems distribute feed continuously, based on a steady water flow. They are often used in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) for feeding fry:

  • Controlled flow: The feed is administered in proportion to the water flow, ensuring uniform nutrient distribution.

  • Optimizing consumption: This type of system can be combined with filters to prevent leftover feed from polluting the water.

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  5. Suction Feeding Systems

  These systems are used in facilities where feed is introduced into the water and sucked up by the fry as they feed while swimming. They are particularly suited for large numbers of fry:

  • Suspended feed: The feed is suspended in the water, allowing the fry to easily capture it while swimming freely in the tank.

  • Feed efficiency: Less feed is wasted as it is only consumed by the fry.

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  6. Tray or Manual Feed Distributors

  Although more traditional, these systems are still commonly used in small-scale facilities or for specific species of fry:

  • Feeding trays: Feed is manually distributed on trays or trays that the fry can easily access.

  • Precise control: This system allows very precise control over the amount and quality of the feed but requires regular monitoring.

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  Conclusion

  The choice of a feeding system depends on various factors, such as the size of the facility, the species being raised, production goals, and labor availability. Automated systems, though initially more expensive, offer significant advantages in terms of precision, labor cost reduction, and optimized fry growth. Live feed distributors, on the other hand, ensure high-quality feeding, essential for the optimal development of young fish.