Survival and growth of cultured juvenile sea cucumbers, Holothuria scabra

• Published in: Aquaculture 1999-08, Vol.178 (3), p.293-322
• Main Authors: Battaglene, Stephen C., Seymour, J. Evizel, Ramofafia, Christain
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ACUICULTURA; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; AQUACULTURE; Biological and medical sciences; Bêche-de-mer; COHOMBRO DE MAR; CRECIMIENTO; CROISSANCE; Fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; GROWTH; Holothuria scabra; Holothurian; HOLOTHURIE; Invertebrate aquaculture; Marine; Mortality; Others; Physical growth; Sandfish; SEA CUCUMBERS; Stock enhancement; SUPERVIVENCIA; SURVIE; SURVIVAL; Trepang
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/S0044-8486(99)00130-1

Factors influencing survival and growth of cultured sandfish, Holothuria scabra, were evaluated in a series of experiments in land-based nursery tanks. There was a critical period in the culture of newly-settled juveniles(20 mm was high: mortality was 20 mm was highly variable and density-dependent: coefficients of variation averaged 25.8% (± 2.2 s.e.). Absolute daily growth rates for juveniles stocked at 20 to 31 mm, ranged from a mean of 0.2 to 0.8 mm day −1, with an overall average of 0.5 mm day −1 (± 0.03 s.e.) over 2 months. This was equivalent to a weight range of 0.1 to 0.4 g day −1, and an average of 0.2 g day −1 (± 0.02 s.e.). Growth in H. scabra slowed when densities reached approximately 225 g m −2, i.e., when individuals averaged 40 g. Juveniles stunted as a result of being held at higher densities subsequently grew at the same rate as juveniles that were not stunted, when they were reared at lower densities. We conclude that it is possible to rear newly-settled H. scabra in land-based tanks using simple technology and little or no added feeds. Consequently, there should be no major impediment to the large-scale production of juveniles for stock enhancement programs provided they can be released successfully at a size of 60 mm and 20 g.