SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF PUERULUS STAGE OF SPINY LOBSTER Panulirus homarus IN DIFFERENT SALINITY REGIMES
Spiny Lobster (Panulirus homarus) is a high value marine commodity which its culture is being developed. The main problem in spiny lobster aquaculture is low survival of puerulus in nursery. Salinity is one of the environmental factors affecting survival and growth of lobster seed, particularly at puerulus stage. Nevertheless, there is a lack of publications reporting range of salinites suitable for lobster juvenile at puerulus stage. The objective of this research was to determine optimum salinity for puerulus rearing, so that the survival and growth could be increased.
This research was designed with completely randomized design, 4 treatments and in triplicates. Puerulus caught from Gerupuk Bay Lombok Island, were reared in salitiny: (A) 20±1 ppt, (B) 25±1 ppt, (C) 30±1 ppt and (D) 35±1 ppt. Tanks used for rearing were fiber tanks with a capicity of 1 m3 filled with seawater 40 cm deep and completed with substrates and aeration.
The results of 49 days rearing showed that salinity significantly affected the survival and growth of spiny lobster puerulus (P<0.05). Salinity 25 ppt resulted in the highest survival rate (31.33±5.77%) and salinity 30 ppt resulted in survival rate 18.67±5.03 % (Figure 1). Total lenght, body weight ( and daily growth rate (DGR) of puerulus reared in 30 ppt was siginificantly higher than the other treatments (P<0.05) 27.6±0.79 mm, 3.76±0.26 g and 0.077±0.005 g/day, respectively (Figure 2). To sum up, rearing of peurulus in salinity 25-30 ppt increased survival and growth rate of spiny lobster peurulus.