Effects of delay of onset of feeding and Artemia concentrations on the survival and growth of Stage I European lobsters, Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus)

• Published in: Aquaculture Research
• Main Authors: Fitzsimmons, Stuart, Saravanan, Sathappan, Walden, Jon, Arthur, Gregg
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Artemia; Delay; European lobster; Feeding; Maguire; Homarus gammarus
• Online Access: https://pure.uhi.ac.uk/en/publications/66f54c11-dd4c-45c9-9fc1-194d9cd653ab; https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2109.2004.01056.x; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=2342535678&partnerID=8YFLogxK; http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=2342535678&partnerID=8YFLogxK

The effects of starvation on the survival, growth, and moult interval of decapod larvae have been examined by several authors (Anger & Da Wirs 1981; Anger, Storch, Anger & Capuzzo 1985; Mikami & Takashima 1993; Abrunhosa & Kittaka 1997; Liddy, Phillips & Maguire 2003); however, the effects of delaying first feeding on survival and growth have not been previously quantified for the European lobster Homarus gammarus (Linnaeus). Beal & Chapman (2001) stated that American lobster (Homarus americanus) larvae should be collected within 30–60 min of hatching for experimental purposes because these unfed larvae would not do well under culture conditions. However, the collection of larvae and immediate commencement of feeding post hatch may not be practical in commercial hatcheries. Previous studies have also indicated that different quantities of Artemia have a significant influence on the survival and growth of H. americanus larvae (Good, Bayer, Gallagher & Rittenburg 1982; Jackson & Castell 1989; Beal & Chapman 2001). This study investigates the effects of a combination of delayed feeding and different prey concentrations on the survival and growth of European lobster larvae during the period from hatch to the end of the first moult. Gravid lobsters were collected from local waters around Shetland Isles, disinfected by submerging eggs in a 1% solution of iodophor for five minutes, and then transferred into a 900-L flow-through holding tank in the hatchery. This tank was supplied with an ambient seawater system (35 g L−1) filtered to 30 μm. The water temperature of the holding tank was 12.5°C (±1.0) for the duration of the larval hatching. The tank was enclosed in a light-proof covering and photoperiod of 8 h light:16 h dark was used to synchronize hatching. Larvae started hatching after 2 weeks using this light regime. Adult lobsters were fed a diet of fresh fish and mussels daily.