Evaluation of Potential Feed Ingredients for the Juvenile Four‐sided Sea Cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate two seaweed species, Solieria filiformis and Macrocytis piryfera, both as dry‐meal powder and predigested meal, to be used as ingredients in artificial diets for the juvenile four‐sided sea cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus. Four diets were tested in triplicate: S. filiformis dry‐meal powder and predigested meal and M. piryfera dry‐meal powder and predigested meal, mixed with 70% of beach sand. Survival exceeded 90% in all the treatments, and there were no differences in the growth of juveniles using dry‐meal powder or predigested meal. Weight gain was calculated for all the diets, and the highest values were obtained by animals fed S. filiformis. No differences between using dry‐meal powder and predigested meal were found, so these diets were excluded from the second trial. The ingestion rate was the same with both algae, but the feed conversion ratio was twice as high for M. piryfera. Solieria filiformis exhibited a number of differences in fatty acid and amino acid profiles, including higher proline, arginine, and saturated fatty acid levels. The results indicate that S. filiformis has better nutritional characteristics to be an ingredient for an artificial I. badionotus juvenile diet.

Evaluation of two independent protocols for the extraction of DNA and RNA from different tissues of sea cucumber Isostichopus badionotus

“…The demand in the international market, mainly from the Asian countries, has increased, with prices per kg of the dry salty product ranging from USD 203 to 402 in Hong Kong China SAR (Special Administrative Region) [1]. Due to its high price in the market and the threat to wild populations in relation to overfishing, various efforts are being carried out in order to cultivate this organism, with significant progress achieved in its growth and nutrition [2,3]. Now is the moment to initiate genetic studies in cultured organisms, therefore, the standardization of methodologies to obtain DNA and RNA of high quality and integrity is required, in order to carry out breeding studies based on genetics, or studies of physiological-metabolic expression, among others.…”

Novel findings in sea cucumber's digestive capacities: Enzymatic activities in the respiratory tree, implications for aquaculture

“…In order to reduce I. badionotus fishing pressure, various efforts have been made during the recent years, to develop aquaculture methods, including the improvement of adequate feeding strategies for broodstock and the different developmental stages (Martínez-Milián & Olvera-Novoa, 2016;Sánchez-Tapia, Slater, & Olvera-Novoa, 2019;Zacarías-Soto & Olvera-Novoa, 2015;Zacarías-Soto, Olvera-Novoa, Pensamiento-Villarauz, & Sánchez-Tapia, 2013;Zacarías-Soto, Tec-Tec, & Olvera-Novoa, 2018). However, physiological and biochemical studies are still needed to achieve a thriving culture.…”

Evaluation of the growth and survival rate of the Caribbean Sea cucumber, Isostichopus badionotus (Selenka, 1867), early juveniles produced in captivity

“…Current research for the aquaculture production of I. badionotus is in its infancy. Only four studies have been carried out in captivity, focused on the spawning management and description of larval development until settlement (Zacarías‐Soto, Olvera‐Novoa, Pensamiento‐Villarauz, & Sánchez‐Tapia, ), the formulation of maintenance diets for adult individuals (Zacarías‐Soto & Olvera‐Novoa, ), and evaluating potential ingredients and the efficiency of practical diets for late juvenile growing (Martínez‐Milián & Olvera‐Novoa, ; Zacarías‐Soto, Tec‐Tec, & Olvera‐Novoa, ). This research aimed to evaluate the growth and survival rates of the brown sea cucumber, I. badionotus , early juveniles under controlled conditions in indoor facilities.…”