Rearing method for Caprella mutica (Malacostraca: Amphipoda) in an exhibition tank in the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, with notes on reproductive biology

Abstract

Caprella mutica (Amphipoda) has been successfully reared through several generations per year for public exhibition in a tank of 500 L, more than five year after introduction of the species into the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium, Japan. The tank was equipped with a coral sand bed filter, a circulation system, and a heater/chiller unit. Artificial seawater (Reef Crystals) was used as a medium. The diatom Phaeodactylum and hatched juveniles of Artemia were provided as food for C. mutica. Two years after the introduction, the sex ratio (females/(females + males)) was 0.50. Males reached body lengths up to 20.5 mm, while the largest female was 10.4 mm long. The average number of embryos/female was 33.0. Embryos were 0.38 to 0.41 mm in the long axis, and 0.30 to 0.33 mm in the short axis. These reproductive characters enable the production of multiple generations in a single year.