An evaluation of potential diets for the culture of postpueruli spiny lobsters Panulirus argus (Palinuridae)

Provision of a suitable feed is paramount for the ongoing success of spiny lobster culture. This study compared and evaluated the performance of seven diets for first instar juvenile spiny lobster Panulirus argus [5-6 mm carapace length (CL)] based on growth rates, survival, and feed conversion ratio. Results demonstrated that a seafood-based juvenile formulation produced the fastest growth rate (3.49% weight gain day(-1) and 0.90% CL increase day(-1) over a 28-day period). These growth rates were also reflected by a low feed conversion rate (3.04) for this formulated feed. Similar results were also obtained for juveniles fed a frozen seafood diet, however, frozen brine shrimp, Artemia salina (both enriched and un-enriched), frozen enriched mysis shrimp, a dry pellet, and a meal-based juvenile formulation did not produce consistent growth rates. Survival rates ranged between 38% and 85% and demonstrate that juvenile lobsters have better likelihoods of survival in captive culture environments compared to the wild. Although further nutritional refinement is recommended, the results from this research have significant implication for the possible expansion of juvenile spiny lobster growout to a larger scale.