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Alternative diets for maintaining and rearing cephalopods in captivity
R H DeRusha1, J W Forsythe, F P DiMarco
1Marine Biomedical Institute, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77550-2772.
Laboratory Animal Science
|July 1, 1989
Summary
Frozen marine shrimp is an effective alternative diet for cephalopod mariculture, supporting growth comparable to live prey for adult and juvenile octopuses. However, hatchlings still require live food for survival.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Aquaculture
- Animal Nutrition
Background:
- Cephalopod mariculture is limited by the need for live marine prey.
- Developing practical, cost-effective diets is crucial for expanding cephalopod aquaculture.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate alternative diets for cephalopod mariculture.
- To identify suitable prey for octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid.
Main Methods:
- Tested various live and frozen marine and freshwater prey.
- Assessed acceptability and growth rates in octopuses, cuttlefish, and squid.
- Compared growth on alternative diets to control diets of live marine prey.
Main Results:
- Frozen marine shrimp supported growth comparable to live prey in adult and juvenile octopuses.
- Growth rates for adult Octopus maya on frozen shrimp were 2.8% body weight per day.
- Juvenile octopuses showed similar growth rates on frozen shrimp.
- Hatchlings of Octopus maya and Sepia officinalis had high mortality and poor growth on dead foods.
Conclusions:
- Frozen marine shrimp is a viable alternative diet for juvenile and adult octopuses.
- Effective diets for hatchling cephalopods remain to be identified.
- Alternative diets can improve the practicality of cephalopod mariculture.