Abstract
The cuttlefish is a commercially important marine species across the world; however, due to the lack of appropriate artificial feed, there is limited future aquaculture development of the cuttlefish. We proposed a novel process comprising (1) feed preference tests and (2) progressive training programs. Through this process, artificial diets can become more suitable for pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis). Feed preference tests (based on vision, touch, and smell) revealed that pharaoh cuttlefish preferred rod-shaped feed to flat rod-shaped or ball-shaped feed, moist feed over dry feed (DF), and DF with agar coating to DF without agar coating. Without olfactory training, some cuttlefish refused to eat artificial feed and eventually died. Through progressive training programs (3- and 6-week programs), a survival rate of >80% was achieved. Although the artificial diets examined in this study resulted in a lower conversion ratio for S. pharaonis than for fresh shrimp, available artificial feed can potentially be adopted for cuttlefish aquaculture through the use of our progressive training program.
Highlights
Cephalopods include octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus, all of which are found across the world oceans from intertidal areas to deep-sea regions (Boletzky and Villanueva, 2014)
Shape We evaluated the feed shape preferred by cuttlefish by shaping moist feed (MF) into rods, balls, and flat rods
Shape In the test evaluating the preference of cuttlefish with respect to feed shape, the recorded latency-to-grab time was considerably shorter for the rod- and flat rod-shaped feed than for the ballshaped feed (Figure 2)
Summary
Cephalopods include octopus, squid, cuttlefish, and nautilus, all of which are found across the world oceans from intertidal areas to deep-sea regions (Boletzky and Villanueva, 2014). They have separate sexes and lack a true larval stage, which means that they develop directly (Boletzky and Villanueva, 2014). Most cephalopods have short life spans (1–2 years) and high rates of growth and feed conversion; all cephalopods are carnivores (Lee et al, 1994; Domingues et al, 2004; Boletzky and Villanueva, 2014; Jiang et al, 2018). Among the various cuttlefish species, Sepia officinalis is the Artificial Feed Preference in Cuttlefish predominant cuttlefish reared for research in European countries, including Spain, Portugal, and France (Boletzky, 1983; Domingues et al, 2001, 2005; Baeza-Rojano et al, 2010). In East and Southeast Asia (e.g., Thailand, China, Taiwan, and Japan), Sepia pharaonis, Sepia esculenta, and Sepiella japonica are the major species that are cultured (Nabhitabhata, 1978; Hao et al, 2007; Fan et al, 2011; Zheng et al, 2014)
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