Evaluation of partial substitution of live algae with dried Tetraselmis for larval rearing of black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera (L.)

Experiments were conducted with larvae of theblack-lip pearl oyster, Pinctadamargaritifera fed on a regime of living algae(an equal mixture of Tahitian Isochrysisaff. galbana and Pavlova salina)either partially or completely substituted withheterotrophically grown spray-dried algae (Tetraselmis suecica). Two experiments wereconducted; in the first, 1-day old larvae werecultured for 13 days and, in the second, 13days old larvae were culture for 7 days. Inboth experiments larvae were fed the followingproportions of live algae (LA) and dried Tetraselmis (DT); (1) 100% LA, (2) 75% LA +25% DT, (3) 50% LA + 50% DT, (4) 25% LA +75% DT; and (5) 100% DT. The optimal dietsfor maximum larval growth were 100% LA and75% LA + 25% DT resulting in larvae with amean shell length (SL) of 132 ± 3.8 and 131± 2.7 µm, respectively, at day 13. Thisshowed that 25% substitution of livemicro-algae with DT is possible withoutaffecting growth of P. margaritiferalarvae of less than 150 µm SL. There was nosignificant difference in survival of P.margaritifera larvae fed 100% LA, 75% LA +25% DT and 50% LA + 50% DT over a period of13 days. Highest survival (43.7%) occurred inlarvae fed 100% DT while lowest (approximately18%) occurred in controls (50% livemicro-algae and unfed) during the firstexperiment. The result of the second experimentindicated that with increasing size, larvae arecapable of accepting a higher proportion ofdried Tetraselmis in their diet. Therewere no significant differences in larvalgrowth or survival, between treatments where LAwas partially and completely substituted dietswith DT.