The Completed Life Cycle of
the Octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier) under Culture Conditions:
Paralarval Rearing using Artemia and Zoeae, and First Data on Juvenile
Growth up to 8 Months of Age
J. Iglesias, J.J. Otero, C.
Moxica, L. Fuentes, F.J. Sánchez-2004
Aquaculture International, 12(4-5):
481-487
Abstract:
This paper shows innovating results on Octopus
vulgaris Cuvier 1797 growth under culture conditions during the whole life
cycle. Experiments were conducted at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography of
Vigo (Spain). Using mean water temperature of 22.5°C,
salinity of 35‰ and adult Artemia (1–4
mm of total length) along with a diet complement of Maja squinado
zoeae as living prey, it was possible to obtain a 31.5% paralarval survival at
day 40 after hatching. At this age, paralarvae had reached a dry weight of 9.5
mg, 23 suckers per arm, and they began the settlement process. First results on
juvenile growth showed that they reached 0.5–0.6
kg at the age of 6 months after hatching, and 2 months later, they attained
weights ranging between 1.4 and 1.8 kg. Mean temperature of the ongrowing
process was 18°C.
(Instituto Español
de Oceanografía, Apartado 1552, 36200-Vigo, Spain,
e-mail: jose.iglesias@vi.ieo.es)