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Optimum weaning method for pharaoh cuttlefish, Sepia pharaonis Ehrenberg, 1831, in small‐ and large‐scale aquaculture
Author(s) -
Jiang Maowang,
Chen Qicheng,
Zhou Shuangnan,
Han Qingxi,
Peng Ruibing,
Jiang Xiamin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/are.14963
Subject(s) - cuttlefish , biology , juvenile , weaning , sepia , zoology , fishery , aquaculture , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , botany , officinalis
Two scale trials were conducted to determine the optimum weaning protocols cuttlefish ( Sepia pharaonis ) juvenile for understanding the feeding habits of cuttlefish and the development of effective aqua‐cultural practices. Three experimental weaning protocols (i.e. cuttlefish size, feeding frequency and culture density) on the growth, survival and muscle proximate composition of cuttlefish juveniles were performed in a small‐scale trial. Then, the optimal weaning protocols were applied to a large‐scale trial for validation. The weaning period lasted 2 weeks. The results showed that larger individuals showed better growth performance than smaller individuals, especially in terms of juvenile survival and specific growth rate (SGR), indicating that larger individuals were more receptive to frozen prey. Increased feeding frequency did stimulate the appetite of animals raised during feeding conversion, and enhance survival, growth and protein deposition compared to low feeding frequency. Moreover, the weight gain (WG) and SGR in the 60 and 70 cuttlefish/m 2 culture density groups were much higher than those in the 80 cuttlefish/m 2 group; however, there was no significant difference in survival among the culture density groups. The validation results of optimal weaning protocols in the large‐scale trial indicated that, according to growth performance, the optimum culture density for juvenile cuttlefish weaning was 70 cuttlefish/m 2 . These results indicate that the optimal weaning protocols for cuttlefish juvenile are as follows: a dorsal mantle length of 24.0 mm or more, the feeding frequency of 4 meals/day and the culture density of 70 cuttlefish/m 2 . These findings have important implications for understanding the feeding habits of cuttlefish and for the development of effective aqua‐cultural practices.