Bioenergetics of red spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus (Randall, 1840) juveniles fed with mollusc

A study to determine of the energetic balance of the red spiny lobster Panulirus interruptus juveniles when fed with squid and mussels included dynamic respiratory measurements, determining oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion and calculating the atomic relationship O:N to estimate the metabolic substrate preferred. We concluded that 81.4% of the energy ingested (C) from the mussels was used for growth (P), and 52.4% when squid fed (P 0.05).The nitrogenous excretions (U) were significantly different (P > 0.05) with percentage values of 10.8 for mussels, and 1.1% for squid, respectively.The resting oxygen consumptions (R) of 15 and 5.1%, as well as the increase of apparent heat (AHI) of 18.2 and 8.6% were significantly different (P < 0.05), for squid and mussels, respectively.A ratio of 5.95 for oxygen-nitrogen (O:N) when squid fed indicates that proteins are used mainly as energetic substrate and consequently were not used in growth. In the case of mussels of ratio 22 it is significantly different (P < 0.05), which signifies that proteins mixed with lipids were used as energetic substrate, channeling obviously a part of the proteins for growth, in this case due to its superior nutritious quality.We conclude that the mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis and M. californicus) as food for juveniles of P. interruptus covers the necessary energetic requirements representing a better food source under laboratory conditions, in aquaculture, and in formulating balanced diets.A survival rate of 100% was obtained during the 221. days of the study period. The initial average value of the cephalothorax length (CL) was of 6.91. mm, while wet weight was of 0.21. g and the final values after eight molts reached the 34.2. mm of CL and 35.393. g for wet weight; the increase of CL/day was of 0.12. mm at 19.4 °C. Zapotitlán 2011 Elsevier B.V