Effects of water depth and substrate color on the growth and body color of the red sea cucumber, Apostichopusjaponicus

• Published in: 中国海洋湖沼学报：英文版 2015 (3), p.616-623
• Main Author: 姜森颢 董双林 高勤峰 任贻超 王芳
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 体色变化; 底物; 水深; 海参; 特定生长率; 色彩效果; 身体; 车身颜色
• ISSN: 0254-4059; 1993-5005

Three color variants of the sea cucumber, Apostichopusjaponicus are recognized, the red one is highly valued in the market. When the red variant is cultured in ponds in China, its body color changes from red to celadon in 3 6 months. The effects of water depth and substrate color on the growth and body color of this animal were investigated. Juveniles of red A. japonicus were cultured in cages suspended at a range of water depths （20, 50, 100, 150 and 200 cm）. The specific growth rate of red sea cucumbers was significantly higher in animals cultured at deeper water layers compared with those grown at shallowers. Body weights were greatest for sea cucumbers cultured at a depth of 150 cm and their survival rates were highest at a depth of 200 cm. A scale to evaluate the color of red sea cucumbers （R value） was developed using a Pantone standard color card. All stocked animals in the 9-month trial retained a red color, however the red body color was much more intense in sea cucumbers cultured at shallower depths, while animals suspended in deeper layers became pale. In a separate trial, A.japonicus were cultured in suspended cages with seven different colored substrates. Substrate color had a significant effect on the growth and body-color of red A. japonicus. The yield were greatest for A. japonicus cultured on a yellow substrate, followed by green 〉 white 〉 orange 〉 red 〉 black and blue. All sea cucumbers in the 7-month trial retained a red color, although the red was most intense （highest R value） in animals cultured on a blue substrate and pale （lowest R value） for animals cultured on a green substrate.