Abstract

Florida fighting conch, Strombus alatus, are currently being raised by ORA Inc., a subsidiary of Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution in Ft. Pierce, FL. The conch in the hatchery are fed one of two diets which partially consist of koi chow or catfish chow. This study examined the reproductive output of adult conch fed these two diets and stocked at either a 1:1 or 2:1 female to male sex ratio. The study was conducted over a period of 6 weeks (June 6- July 17, 2003). There were six replicates per diet, and the replicates for each diet treatment were further divided into three replicates of each sex ratio treatment. Egg masses were counted and measured for egg strand diameter, egg capsule diameter, and number of eggs per mm. Four egg masses from each diet treatment were hatched and the veligers were raised until metamorphosis. Veligers were measured periodically for shell length. The average veliger growth rate was 30.7 µm/d for parental conch fed koi chow, and 32.4 µm/d for parental conch fed catfish chow. There was no significant difference in the number of egg masses laid for conch fed koi chow or catfish chow, or for conch stocked at a 1:1 or 2:1 sex ratio (p > 0.05). Egg mass measurements and veliger growth rates were similar for all treatments. Since there was no difference in reproductive output, adult broodstock can be fed either diet and can be stocked at a sex ratio of 2:1, so that fewer animals are needed. El conch de la Florida se está cultivando por ORA, Inc., un subsidiario de Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution en Ft. Pierce, la Florida.

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