Effect of dried algae diets on conditioning and fecundity of Manila clam, Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve)

The effectiveness of live-algae replacement diets for the conditioning and spawning success of adult Manila clam, Tapes philippinarum (Adams and Reeve), was assessed. Two dried diets were tested: a diet of dried Tetrasetmis suecica (Kylin) Butch, and a mixed diet of dried T. suecica (70%) and dried Cyclotella cryptica Reimann et al. (30%). These diets were compared with three live diets: Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve, Dunaliella tertiolecta (Butcher) and T. suecica. An unfed group was used as a control. The same ration (dry weight) of food was supplied for all groups at 6% of the dry meat weight per day. The broodstock were conditioned for 7 weeks. After 4 weeks none of the animals was ready to spawn. After 6 weeks all the diets promoted spawning and after 7 weeks the unfed group also spawned. It seems that dried algal diets are effective for conditioning and spawning of Manila clams, as the dry meat weight, condition index and fecundity of broodstock fed these diets were significantly greater than for unfed animals. However, the fecundity and proportion of parental lipid released in the eggs of clams conditioned with dried diets was lower than for the clams conditioned with live algae.