Determining the effects of stocking density and temperature on growth and food consumption in the Pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, Ehrenberg 1890
Barord, G.J.; Keister, K.N.; Lee, P.G. (2010). Determining the effects of stocking density and temperature on growth and food consumption in the Pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis, Ehrenberg 1890. Aquacult. Int. 18(3): 271-283. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10499-009-9242-x
In: Aquaculture International. Springer: London. ISSN 0967-6120; e-ISSN 1573-143X, more
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| Keywords |
Aquaculture
Diets
Population functions > Growth
Properties > Physical properties > Density
Sepia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Author keywords |
Aquaculture; Cuttlefish; Density; Diet; Growth |
| Authors | | Top |
- Barord, G.J.
- Keister, K.N.
- Lee, P.G.
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| Abstract |
The purpose of this experiment was to observe the impact of stocking density on growth and food consumption of juvenile Sepia pharaonis reared at 23 and 28°C. Two groups of 32 cuttlefish each were reared in closed recirculating seawater systems with water temperatures of 23°C (group A) and 28°C (group B). Each group was divided into three treatments with two replicates per treatment: low-density (equivalent to 20 cuttlefish m−2), medium-density (equivalent to 100 cuttlefish m−2), and high-density (equivalent to 200 cuttlefish m−2). Measured amounts of live food were added three times a day and the wet body weight of each cuttlefish was measured once a week during the 42-day study. Cuttlefish in group B had higher growth rates and food consumption than cuttlefish in group A. The different stocking densities in group B affected the size of the cuttlefish whereas the stocking densities of the cuttlefish in group A treatments did not lead to different sizes between densities. Overall, the gross growth efficiency of the high-density treatments was lower than that of the low-density treatments, as was the weight of the cuttlefish in the high-density treatment. Although the wet weights of group A treatments were not significantly different (P > 0.05), the wet weights of the cuttlefish in the high-density, group B, treatment were lower than those in the low and medium density treatments. This decrease in individual size suggests that stocking densities of 100 to 200 cuttlefish m−2 may interfere with growth. |
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