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Effects of Different Weaning Protocols on Survival, Growth and Nutritional Composition of Pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) Juvenile

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal weaning protocols for rearing juvenile cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis, as well as to understand the feeding habits of cuttlefish and develop effective aqua-cultural practices. The effects of four experimental weaning protocols (i.e., food type, cuttlefish size, food ration (bw d−1) and feeding frequency (meals d−1)) on the growth, survival and muscle proximate composition of cuttlefish juvenile were studied in quintuplicate. The weaning period lasted 2 weeks. The results showed that cuttlefish fed with frozen white shrimp (Exopalaemon carinicauda) displayed a significantly higher survival, growth parameters, ingestion rate, food conversion rate, and muscle protein content when compared with the other prepared frozen foods. The larger individuals revealed better growth performance than smaller individuals, especially in terms of survival and specific growth rate, indicating that larger individuals were more receptive to frozen prey. Furthermore, size grading should be conducted to ensure better growth during weaning. As food rations increased, the survival, growth and muscle protein content of juveniles were promoted, whereas the most appropriate food ration for cuttlefish juvenile was 35% bw d−1. Similarly, higher feeding frequency could stimulate the appetite of animals reared on weaning, and enhance survival, growth, and protein deposition compared to low feeding frequency. These results suggest that the optimal feeding protocols of juvenile weaning is as follows: the ideal prepared food is frozen shrimp, the weight of juveniles should be 4.0 g (32 days old) or more, the food ration should be 35% (bw d−1), and the optimum feeding frequency is 4 meals day−1. This study offers a promising starting point to successfully breed this candidate aquaculture species.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41806186) and the Ningbo Science and Technology Bureau (No. 2014C11001). This research was also sponsored by the K. C. Wong Magna Fund at Ningbo University. The authors are grateful to the Marine Fisheries Research Institute of Zhoushan for supplying the experiment S. pharaonis cuttlefish hatchlings and providing logistical support throughout the experiment.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China

    Maowang Jiang, Ziru Han, Peng Sheng, Ruibing Peng, Qingxi Han & Xiamin Jiang

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  1. Maowang Jiang
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  2. Ziru Han
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  3. Peng Sheng
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  4. Ruibing Peng
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Correspondence to Xiamin Jiang.

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Jiang, M., Han, Z., Sheng, P. et al. Effects of Different Weaning Protocols on Survival, Growth and Nutritional Composition of Pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) Juvenile. J. Ocean Univ. China 19, 1421–1429 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4479-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4479-0

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