Successful breeding and hatchery experiments of the spineless cuttlefish Sepiella intermis at Tuticorin shellfish hatchery

摘要

Cuttlefishes lay the eggs in asses in sheltered and calm areas in the inshore waters. Egg masses of this cuttlefish were collected from Manapad near Tuticorin, east coast of India in September 1998 and kept in filtered seawater. Hatching started the very next day and it took 10 days for the entire egg mass to hatch out and release the young ones. The mantle length of the hatchlings was 2 mm. Initially the hatchlings were fed with mysids but subsequently they were given a mixed diet of Acetes and mysids. Based on the present results it can be stated that cephalopod culture is possible through hatchery produced seeds. With grow out period of 75 to 90 days it will be possible to take three crops per year.