Abstract

Although methods for culturing queen conch for stock enhancement and growout markets are well established, few studies have addressed the nutritional value of artificial diets for juvenile conch. This study evaluated the effect of supplementing different macroalgae into an artificial juvenile queen conch diet used at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Four diets containing the Chlorophyta Ulva, the Rodophytas Agardhiella and Gracilaria, or an equal-parts recipe of the three species was mixed with commercial catfish chow, alginate, and seawater. The diets were extruded into pellet form and frozen until fed to each treatment. Two controls were used; an unfed group and a group fed a diet containing no macroalgae. Shell length, shell width, and live weight were recorded monthly. Wet meat weight, dry meat weight, and dry shell weight were recorded at the end of the three month experiment. Results showing growth rate, length to weight ratio, and survival will be presented. This data will be used to develop and improve artificial diets for juvenile queen conch

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