15 MAY 1999
CONDITIONING OYSTERS TO SPAWN
Date: 20 April 1999
From: Jennifer E. Collins <jcollins@cadmin.nsac.ns.ca>
To: AQUA-L@killick.ifmt.nf.ca <AQUA-L@killick.ifmt.nf.ca>
QUESTION:
I am conditioning oysters, quahogs and mussels to spawn so that
larvae can be produced outside of the normal spawning time. I am
growing algae in Kalwall tubes in the same room as my conditioning
tanks, with 24 hrs of fluorescent light. How much would the continual
light affect the conditioning period of my animals? I haven't had
much luck in trying to spawn out my animals after the proper
conditiong time/temp/feeding. I thought that maybe this could be the
problem.
Jennifer E. Collins
Shellfish Technician & Algologist
Nova Scotia Agricultural College
P.O. Box 550
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 5E3, Canada
Tel: (902) 893-6533
Fax: (902) 897-9399
e-mail: jcollins@cadmin.nsac.ns.ca
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COMMENTS 1:
I think Tetraselmis suecica is about the best alga to use. If you choose
to supplement, you might try dilute corn starch blended with powdered Algal Mac as major constituents in a slow drip from a bucket, perhaps blended up with small amounts of cod liver oil and lechithin as trace additives- make your own secret sauce.
Reed Mariculture has some algal pastes you may wish to try for bivalve conditioning.
Ted
e-mail: TGTX <GROUND@THRIFTY.NET>
***************
COMMENTS 2:
I conditioned oysters with continuously grown algae (T. suecica, 3-H, T-iso), and had no problem with the maturation process. I like a 1% corn starch drip to boost the glycogen content of the oysters. Sometimes after dormancy they are a little slow to kick in so be patient if all your parameters are correct. Have you checked any animals to see if they are ripe?
Phil Boeing
12604 Shady Acres Dr.
Buda, TX 78610-2522, USA
Fax: 512-295-5659
e-mail: p.boeing@worldnet.att.net