STUDIES ON THE NUTRITION OF ABALONE-I

FEEDING TRIALS OF ABALONE, HALIOTIS DISCUS REEVE, WITH ARTIFICIAL DIETS

Abstract

The feeding trials of abalone, Haliotis discus REEVE, was conducted in aquariums with dried brown alga, Undaria pinnatifida, and with artificial diets not containing seaweeds for several months. The composition of the diets used in the present studies is shown in Table 1. A white fish meal was used as a protein source of artificial diets. The method of preparation of artificial diets fed was as follows: suitable quantities of water were added to the powdered diet containing sodium alginate, the pasty material thus obtained was coated on glass plate and then it was dipped in aqueous solution of CaCl₂. By this treatment of diet, sodium alginate was converted to insoluble calcium alginate-gel in which various nutrients were kept. The results of feeding trials are shown in Fig. 1 and Tables 2 and 3. The larvae of abalone could utilize artificial diet containing no seaweeds and showed a good response of growth. The growth of abalone, however, was influenced more or less by the content of protein in the diets. The shell of abalone formed newly was green in color in all kinds of diets used.