Growth performance of spiny lobster Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus) fed with natural animal food

Abstract

Feeding experiments were conducted in juveniles of Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus) to test the effect of four natural animal food sources (three commercially available natural animal food items + clam as a reference live food cum control) on growth performance. Two way ANOVA of the data collected affirmed that among the different natural feeds, mean growth values showed highly significant (p<0.01) difference between the test diets. Among the growth parameters studied, the highest mean individual weight gain (118 g), survival (100%), per day growth rate (3.2775 g), protein efficiency ratio (1.0245), specific growth rate (0.4635), gross growth efficiency (11.555%) and feed conversion ratio (8.65) were attained in lobsters fed with clam as compared to that of crab, fish or squid waste. Though the lobsters fed with clam exhibited best performance, considering the ready availability in market, crabs belonging to the genus Portunus spp. that fetch low market value could be utilized as an ideal feed item for lobster rearing.