Effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus supplementation on the growth performance of juvenile spotted babylon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Babylonia areolata</Emphasis> culture in a recirculating culture system

A feeding experiment was conducted to determine the effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus, and the interaction between calcium and phosphorus, on the growth of juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, cultured in a recirculating culture system. Nine isonitrogenous experimental diets supplemented with three levels of calcium (1, 4, and 7%) for each of three levels of phosphorus (1, 3, and 5%) were prepared using fish meal, squid meal, and shrimp meal as the main protein sources. Juveniles with an initial average body weight of 0.59 ± 0.09 g were fed to satiation once daily with one of the nine diets for 180 days. Absolute and specific growth rates were calculated for both shell length and whole wet body weight. Results showed that dietary calcium and phosphorus supplementation significantly affected the growth of juvenile spotted babylon (P < 0.05), but not survival and feed-conversion ratio. The specific growth rate in shell length (SGRL) ranged from 0.32 to 0.39% day⁻¹. No significant difference among phosphorus levels and no significant interaction between calcium and phosphorus in SGRL of the spotted babylon (P > 0.05) was found, but significant differences were observed among calcium levels, irrespective of phosphorus levels (P < 0.05). For 1 and 7% supplemental calcium, the spotted babylon had significantly higher SGRL than those fed diets supplemented with 4% calcium. However, the specific growth rate in body weight (SGRW) ranged from 0.91 to 1.19% day⁻¹ with no significant difference among calcium and phosphorus levels and no significant interaction between calcium and phosphorus (P > 0.05). Survival and feed-conversion ratio were not significantly affected by dietary calcium and phosphorus levels with ranges from 91.00 to 95.00% and 2.43 to 2.76, respectively. At the end of the experiment, shell abnormality of B. areolata was found for all feeding trials.