Abstract
Giant clams are the largest extant bivalves and widespread inhabitants of the Indo-Pacific coral reefs. These organisms are particularly sought after by the food industry because of their large mantle and adductor muscle, while also are relevant to the aquarium trade market. The aquaculture of giant clams is dependent of a land-based hatchery divided in several tanks with different purposes for larval rearing. Prior to reproductive events, broodstock are conditioned and gametogensis is stimulated by frequent food additions, increased photoperiod and intense physical-chemical stability at optimum conditions. Several different methods can be employed to induce spawning, most notoriously the intragonadal injection of serotonin, thermal stress and addition of macerated gonadal tissue of a conspecific. The success of the method is based on spawning occurrence, time for response and events of broodstock mortality. After spawning, gametes are fertilized and a succession of planktonic larval stages is cultured in hatching tanks and raceways. Embryonic development lasts for approximately 12 hours until the hatch of free-swimming and non-feeding trochophore larvae. After 24 hours post-fertilization larvae morph into veliger stage, made evident by the presence of calcium carbonate shells and velum. Veliger larva are fed with live or preserved phytoplankton and must also acquire symbiotic zooxanthellae. The last stage is the pediveliger stage at approximately one week post-fertilization, when settlement takes place and metamorphosis is soon attained.
Published Version
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