EFFECT OF DIFFERENT DIETS ON THE GROWTH AND SURVIVAL OF THE LARVAE AND JUVENILES OF SPOTTED BABYLON SNAILS (Babylonill areolata LINK 1807)

Abstract

Growth and survival experiments were conducted to determine the suitable feed for larvae and juvenile of spotted babylon snail (Babylonia areolata). Three types of phytoplankton (Isochrysis sp., Chaetoceros sp., and Tetraselmis sp.) were used in the larval experiment, and three types of feed (Adult brine shrimp, fresh fish, and fresh green mussel) were used in the juvenile experiment. The larval experiment was conducted in 500 L tanks (400 larvae per L), and the juvenile experiment was conducted in rectangle tanks size measuring 60 x 40 x 30 em (400 snails per tank). Both experiments were conducted in three replicates. The larval experiment was terminated on achieving oflarva metammphosis to settlejuvenile, while juvenile experiment was terminated once any treatment of the juveniles reached 1 em shell length. The results showed that larvae fed with Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros sp. was not significantly different in growth (0.081 and 0.076 mm per day respectively) and survival (2.75% and 2.01% respectively). The larva fed with Tetraselmis sp. died on the 6111 day of the study. For the juvenile experiment, the snails fed with adult brine shrimp (44.48%) showed significantly higher survival compared to green mussel (19.34%). The snails fed with fresh fish was significantly low in feed conversion ratio. There was no significant difference in growth (shell length and width) for all treatments inthejuvenile experiment. Inconclusion, Isochrysis sp. and Chaetoceros sp. could be used for larvae and fresh fish is the most suitable food for juvenile stage.