Tropical Aquaculture

CLOSING THE CYCLE: CAPTIVE BREEDING BEHAVIOR OF FOUR STROMBIDAE CONCH

Research Team:
Megan Davis (HBOI) - Principle Investigator
Amber Shawl (HBOI)
Jerry Corsaut (HBOI)

The purpose of this work was to establish a productive captive breeding program for Strombus gigas and three non-restricted Caribbean Strombus conch species: S. raninus, S. alatus, and S. costatus. Seven S. raninus, eight S. alatus, five S. costatus, and four S. gigas adults were collected in the Florida Keys. They were placed in a circular tank (4.5m dia) that was divided into four equal quadrants (4.1m2). The conch were fed a prepared gel food made of Mazuri Koi chow blended with Ulva sp..

The number of egg masses laid, breeding behavior, and larval rearing was recorded. In 40 weeks (282 days), a total of 426 egg masses were collected. The five S. raninus females laid 341 egg masses, the four S. alatus females laid 58 egg masses, the three S. costatus females laid 23 egg masses and the single S. gigas female laid 4 egg masses in mid-February. The collected egg masses were measured for size, number of eggs, and egg capsule and strand diameter. The viability of the egg masses collected were tested via larval rearing, and several batches from all four species were successfully raised from egg stage through juveniles. The breeding behaviors observed included male preferences, female copulation while spawning, and "sparring" and guarding behavior.

This research was partially funded by Project AWARE and Link Foundation.