Experimental culture of the Pharaoh’s cuttlefish <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Sepia pharaonis</i>, Ehrenberg 1831, under closed circulation systems

Abstract

Though majority of research findings suggest recirculation systems (RS), the present work was experimented with a closed circulation system (CCS). Successful growth rates were evident up to 130 days where the average dorsal mantle length (DML) was 84 mm and weight 61.43 gms. Effect of salinity on the pralarva at various levels displayed 100% survival rate in the range of 30-34 ppt. Though brine shrimp (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Artemia parthenogenetica</i>) was the preferred prey for the first 10 days of culture, Paralarva fed with mysids had better growth rates from 10^th day onwards. Higher survival rate was noted (78%) for Paralarva fed with mysids. The juveniles were trained to accept frozen mysids after 21 days while flesh of fish (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Johnius dussumieri</i>) was introduced from 40^th day onwards. In par with the cultures from recirculating systems, closed systems are effective for culture of the Pharaoh’s cuttlefish. Though growth rates tend to be on a negligible lower level, it is evident that these cephalopods can be raised without much of an investment under the CCS.