Short communication
Larval rearing and spat
production of Marcia opima (Gmelin)
P. Muthiah, J.X. Rodrigo, N. Suja-2002
Aquaculture, 211(1-4): 393-401
Abstract:
The `baby clam' Marcia opima (Gmelin) was
spawned on seven occasions in the shellfish hatchery at the Tuticorin
Research Centre, India. The fertilized eggs measured 47.8 µm in diameter
and the straight hinged larvae attained at 20 h were 87 µm in length and 71
µm in height. Settlement occurred on day 9 at 273 µm. The percentage of
settlement varied from 13.9% to 56.2%. The growth of post-set clam spat has
been described by the equation of L=0.0086x1.4672,
where L is the length in mm and x is the number of days. The
clam seed reached a size of 11.5 mm at 4 months. The significance of this
study is to standardize the techniques for hatchery production of the seeds
of M. opima.
(Tuticorin Research Centre of CMFRI, 115 N.K. Chetty
Street, Tuticorin 628001, India)