larvario

Larvario is a term used in Portuguese-speaking aquaculture to refer to a facility or system dedicated to the rearing of aquatic larvae from eggs to juvenile stages. The word derives from the verb larvar (to rear larvae) plus the suffix -io, analogous to hatchery or larval rearing facility in English. In practice, a larvario may function as a standalone unit or as part of a larger hatchery complex.

Functions and design: A larvario provides controlled environmental conditions essential for larval survival and growth. These facilities commonly employ recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) or flow-through arrangements, with precise control of temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and waste removal. Water quality management often includes biofiltration, mechanical filtration, aeration, and, in some cases, disinfection such as UV treatment.

Lifecycle and feeding: Larvarios rear eggs through early larval stages to postlarvae or fry, depending on the species. In crustacean hatcheries, stages may include nauplius, zoea, mysis, and postlarva; in fish, yolk-sac and early fry stages are raised before transfer to nursery tanks. Early feeding typically relies on live feeds (for example, rotifers and Artemia nauplii) before transitioning to formulated feeds.

Applications and significance: Larvarios are central to commercial aquaculture, research, and biodiversity programs. They enable controlled breeding, disease management, and genetic selection, and they support supply chains for shrimp, bivalves, and finfish.

See also: hatchery, aquaculture, larval rearing. See also regional variations such as Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese terminology.