Optimizing stocking density and microalgae ration improves the growth potential of tropical black-lip oyster, Saccostrea echinata, larvae

The combined effects of stocking density and microalgae ration on survival and size of Saccostrea echinata larvae were studied in two-factor experiments for the major developmental stages: D-veliger (1-day posthatch [dph], Experiment 1), umbonate (12 dph, Experiment 2), and eyed (19 dph, Experiment 3) larvae. Larvae were stocked into replicate sets of four 10-L aquaria with ambient 1-μm filtered sea water (28 ± 1.5°C and 36 ppt) and cultured for four days at densities of 0.5, 2, 5, 7, or 10 larvae/mL and provided with microalgae rations at each of five densities (cells larvae−1 day−1); 0, 1, 3, 5, or 8 × 103 (D-veliger larvae, Experiment 1); 0, 5, 12, 18, or 25 × 103 (umbonate larvae, Experiment 2); and 0, 15, 30, 40, or 60 × 103 (eyed larvae, Experiment 3). Microalgae rations for each larval life stage were selected on the basis of increasing food requirement with larval size and comprised a 2:1:1 mixture of Chaetoceros calcitrans, Tisochrysis lutea, and Pavlova spp., calculated on an equal dry-weight basis. Contour plots were generated from larval survival and larval size (dorso-ventral measurement [DVM]) data to determine optimal culture conditions. Larvae showed high survival (54–100%) over a wide range of both treatment parameters across all life stages, confirming broad tolerance limits for this species. The interaction effects of larval stocking density and microalgae ration on larval size were significant (p < 0.001) across all life stages. Results indicate that maximum larval size (DVM) is achieved when S. echinata are cultured at: 6–8 larvae/mL and fed 5–6 × 103 cells larvae−1 day−1 for D-veligers (mean DVM >80 μm), at 2–8 larvae/mL and fed 11–25 × 103 cells larvae−1 day−1 for umbonate larvae (mean DVM > 190 μm), and at 1–4 larvae/mL and fed 15–40 × 103 cells larvae−1 day−1 for eyed larvae (mean DVM >230 μm). Results will help refine current hatchery methods for S. echinata supporting further development toward commercial aquaculture production of this species