Patterns of growth of juvenile pink abalone Haliotis corrugata fed re-hydrated natural feeds at a laboratory and a hatchery

The feasibility of obtaining a similar growth response from juvenile pink abalone Haliotis corrugata at a research laboratory and a hatchery, when using natural feeds was evaluated. Four macroalgae, Egregia menziesii, Eisenia arborea, Macrocystis pyrifera, Gracilaria sp., and the surfgrass Phyllospadix torreyi were used as feeds. Response patterns of abalone were very similar at both facilities in terms of final length, weight, and survival, varying from 13.0 to 15.50 mm, 0.31 to 0.52 g, and 60.0% to 78.6%, respectively. Better growth was obtained when E. menziesii, M. pyrifera, and Gracilaria sp. were offered. Poor results were obtained with surfgrass. The feed conversion ratio was determined at the laboratory and did not vary significantly, ranging from 42.3 to 199.0; although a significant inverse correlation was observed with growth rate. Growth in length and weight and survival rates varied within 1.6-20.2 μm day^-1, 0.123-1.664 mgday^-1, 0.4-0.64%day^-1, respectively. Mean growth rate in length (14.7μm day^-1) and weight (1.18 mg day^-1) at the hatchery were significantly higher than that obtained at the laboratory (9.4 μm day ^-1 and 0.77 mg day^-1), which is most likely a consequence of more suitable water temperature at the hatchery. Mean survival rate was significantly higher at the laboratory (53.1%day^-1) than at the hatchery (46.1%day^-1).