1. Preliminary assessment of large‐scale co‐culture of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) with the Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) in earthen ponds and in raceways.
- Author
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Dobson, Gregory T., Duy, Nguyen Dinh Quang, and Southgate, Paul C.
- Subjects
AUTOMOBILE racetracks ,PONDS ,BABYLON (Extinct city) ,WATER quality ,SNAILS ,WEIGHT gain ,SYSTEMS development - Abstract
Holothuria scabra (sandfish) and Babylonia areolata were trialed in two large‐scale co‐culture experiments. Experiment 1 assessed co‐culture in 4 × 400 m2 earthen ponds where Babylonia were cultured in a central pen at a density of 400 individuals/m2 with sandfish occupying the remaining pond space at 1.1 individuals/m2. Sandfish grew from 18.20 ± 6.67 g to 119.03 ± 17.74 g in 92 days and Babylonia (fed trash fish in both experiments) grew from 0.90 ± 0.38 g to 4.93 ± 1.44 g, but Babylonia growth was not increased in co‐culture compared to monoculture. Water and sediment quality varied between co‐culture and monoculture ponds. Neither showed clear improvement due to sandfish culture. Experiment 2 compared non‐segregated sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture with Babylonia monoculture in 20 m2 concrete raceways. Sandfish were cultured at 2 individuals/m2 and Babylonia at 300 individuals/m2. Sandfish grew up to 1.91 g.day−1 with 100% survival. Babylonia weight gain was significantly greater in co‐culture raceways (3.35 ± 0.64 g over 61 days), which was double that of Babylonia in monoculture. Substrate total N was reduced by 20% in co‐culture compared with monoculture (p =.032). This provisional study of commercial scale sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture demonstrates culture compatibility, providing a basis for further system development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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