Culture of slipper lobster larvae (decapoda: Achelata: Scyllaridae) fed jellyfish as food

Abstract

Planktonic larvae of slipper and spiny lobsters, so-called phyllosoma, are known to be associated with various kinds of gelatinous zooplankton such as jellyfish and salps in the wild. Phyllosoma larvae likely utilise the gelatinous zooplankton for food, transport, and protection. Based on knowledge of the natural association behaviour of phyllosoma larvae with gelatinous zooplankton, a seed production technique for lobsters using gelatinous zooplankton as food can be established. In tank conditions, the complete larval development from newly hatched phyllosoma to juvenile stage has been achieved with cnidarian jellyfish as the sole food in three slipper lobster species, Ibacus novemdentatus, I. ciliatus, and Thenus australiensis. Understanding of the biophysical and biochemical compositions of jellyfish and their effect on growth and survival of phyllosoma larvae may result in new knowledge and techniques for successful achievement of mass seed production, as well as development of a sustainable jelly-like artificial diet for phyllosoma larvae.