Utilization of Different Types of Microalgae to Improve Hatcheries Production of the Sea Cucumber Holothuria scabra Jaeger, 1833 in the Red Sea, Egypt.

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

This study was conducted to test the effect of different micro-algal food on the development and the survival of the early stages of sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra) in the Red Sea at the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Four types of microalgae, Chaetoceros gracilis, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chuii and Spirulina powder were tested individually and in a mixture. Good positive results were observed with Chaetoceros gracilis, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chuii, whether singly used or in a mixture. Full larval metamorphosis, from late-auricularia to dololaria, was recorded with the mixture of micro-algae at 96 hours, while Chaetoceros gracilis, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis chuii recorded 90%, 92% and 82%, respectively. After 72 hrs, a full larval settlement was recorded with Tetraselmis chuii and the mixture of micro-algae. Whereas, a percentage of  97 and 91 of larval settlement was shown with Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros gracilis, respectively. The survival rate of larvae, from the first day of hatching to the juveniles, was 7% with the mixture of microalgae followed by 4% with Isochrysis galbana and 2% for both Tetraselmis chuii and Chaetoceros gracilis. The current study proved that feeding the larvae of sea cucumber on different types of live micro-algae was beneficial to increase the survival rate, and improve the larval metamorphosis and settlement. However, considering the current data, future investigations are required to enrich the existing data with proper information to develop sea cucumber hatcheries.

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