Hatching, Growth and Feed Preference of Hatchlings of<i> Volagalea cochlidium</i> (Linnaeus, 1758)

Abstract

The hatching, growth and feed preference of hatchlings of the whelk Volagalea cochlidium (Linnaeus, 1758) (synonymous with Hemifusus pugilinus) under laboratory conditions is described. The egg capsules were semi-transparent; light yellow in color and trapezoidal in shape. Each capsule had 75-80 embryos. The length of the capsules along with the holdfast ranged from 14.98 to 23.26 mm. The hatchlings crawled out of the capsules after 30 days of incubation at 28-30℃. The mean shell length of the newly hatched out hatchling was 1.364 ± 0.009 and mean width 0.096 ± 0.011 mm. The hatchlings were fed five different diets and reared for 62 days to compare the effects on growth and survival. The most preferred feed was mussel meat, followed by clam feed, shrimp meat. Higher growth rates were recorded for those fed with mussel meat and highest cumulative mortality occurred in those fed with oyster meat. The whelk is in high demand for its shell and operculum and is exploited indiscriminately. This study indicates its potential for aquaculture and replenishment of wild stock through stock enhancement programs using hatchery produced juveniles of the whelk.