Hatchery culture of the winged pearl oyster, Pteria penguin, without living micro-algae

Abstract

This paper reports on successful hatchery production of the winged pearl oyster, Pteria penguin, without the use of live micro-algae. Larval nutrition was provided by commercially available micro-algae concentrates, Instant Algae® (“Isochrysis 1800®” and “Pavlova 1800®”, Reed Mariculture Inc., San Jose, CA, USA). Larvae were first transferred to settlement tanks on day 17 when their mean antero-posterior measurement (APM) was 240.2±8.6μm. Approximately 6.4% of larvae survived to day 17 and more than 700,000 eyed pediveligers were transferred to settlement tanks between day 17 and day 25. Approximately 33,000 spat were harvested from spat collectors on day 105, representing a survival rate of 4.7% from the eyed pediveliger stage. Growth and development of larvae in this study were superior to those reported in a prior study that used a ternary live micro-algae diet to feed P. penguin larvae. Our results indicate that the products used in this study proved nutritious for P. penguin larvae and supported normal growth and development through settlement. The use of commercially available micro-algae concentrates as a replacement for live micro-algae in pearl oyster hatcheries supports development of simplified larval rearing protocols, without live micro-algae culture, that are more appropriate to Pacific island nations.Statement of relevanceThis paper reports for the first time on successful hatchery production of pearl oysters without the use of live micro-algae. Successful replacement of live micro-algae with commercially available micro-algae concentrates as a larval food source supports development of simpler, cheaper hatchery facilities, and larval rearing protocols that are more appropriate to Pacific island nations.