Effects of culture density and bottom area on growth and survival of the cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The effects of culture density and bottom areas on cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) culture were studied. Cuttle fish were cultured under three experimental combinations of culture density and bottom area: (1) high density and small bottom surface area; (2) low density and large bottom area; (3) high density and large bottom area. Each experimental protocol was repeated in triplicate. Average weights at the end of the experiment were of 65.8 ± 5.8, 87.1 ± 5.6 and 78.7 ± 5.9 g for cuttlefish cultured under the conditions of protocol 1, 2, and 3, respectively; these differences were significant between each of the three groups. Total biomass increased faster (up to 7.5 kg per tank) under the high density/ large bottom area conditions (protocol 3) due to the larger number of animals and low mortality in those tanks. Growth rates (%bw day -1 ) were different between protocols, with growth rates of 2.1 ± 0.1, 3.0 ± 0.2, and 2.5 ± 0.1%bw day -1 obtained for cuttlefish cultured according to protocol 1, 2, or 3, respectively. Average feeding rates were similar for the three groups-10.7 ± 0.8, 9.7 ± 2.0, and 9.6 ± 1.1%bw day -1 for cuttlefish cultured according to protocols 1, 2, and 3, respectively, while food conversions (%) were different-21.5 ± 3.2, 32.4 ± 2.5, and 27.0 ± 1.1%bw day -1 , respectively. Total mortality was high in the high density/small bottom area tanks, 30%, while it was very low for the groups cultured under conditions of low and high density/large bottom area, 4%. Based on these results, we conclude that culture conditions that provide large bottom areas also provide good survival conditions and promote growth in comparison those with small bottom areas, even under conditions of lower culture densities.

Effects of two dietary protein levels on energy balance and digestive capacity of Octopus maya

“…reported growth rates *1% body weight day -1 at culture densities ranging between 4 and 25 kg m -3 . Similar results were reported for O. vulgaris (Segawa and Hanlon 1988;Iglesias et al 2000;Aguado and García-García 2003) and Sepia officinalis (Domingues and Márquez 2010).…”

Effects of increased tank bottom areas on cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, L.) reproduction performance

“…On the other hand, Domingues and Marquez () observed an overall increase in growth and survival rates associated with increased bottom areas regardless of rearing densities. Nevertheless, these authors used raceway tanks contrary to the circular tanks used by Correia et al .…”

“…According to Sykes, Domingues & Andrade (), Forsythe, Lee, Walsh and Clark () and Correia, Domingues, Sykes and Andrade (), available bottom areas, animal density and temperature interfere with cuttlefish growth, mortality and reproduction. Recently, Domingues and Marquez (), concluded that larger bottom areas of raceway tanks have significant effects on cuttlefish growth and survival at different densities. This may be due to the ability of the species for spatial learning, which was previously described by Karson, Boal and Hanlon ().…”

Efectos de la densidad de cultivo y de elementos de refugio en el crecimiento y supervivencia de juveniles de centollo,Maja brachydactyla (Balss, 1922)

“…Uno de los factores clave en la acuicultura es optimizar el crecimiento en un mínimo de espacio (Forsythe et al 2002, Iglesias et al 2002, Domingues et al 2003 evitando una excesiva masificación de individuos, que puede tener efectos negativos sobre el crecimiento y el comportamiento de muchas especies. La densidad de cultivo es pues un factor muy importante en acuicultura (Sumpter 1993).…”