Growth performance of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the growth performance, biochemical composition, feed utilization and water quality parameters of spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus in indoor culture. The fattening experiments was carried out with five different fresh feeds viz. green mussel, clam, oyster, trash fish and pellet feed. Indoor experimental culture of juvenile lobster, Panulirus homarus lasted for 75 days to find better growth rate and survival. There was a reasonable change in the carapace length and weight of lobsters fed with clam and green mussel. Their Biomass was significantly better than other three feeds viz. oyster, pellet feed and trash fish. The spiny lobster, Panulirus homarus fed with clam, green mussel and oyster can increase the size of carapace length compared with the trash fish and pellet fed one. The maximum growth performance was seen during the 75th day on the clam fed experiment which was found to be ranged between (6.7 +/- 0.02 -7.2 +/- 0.03 cm) in carapace length, (6.1 +/- 0.1 -6.7 +/- 0.08 cm) in body length, (12.8 +/- 0.03 -13.8 +/- 0.08 cm) in total length and (105 +/- 0.07 -112 +/- 0.08 g) in total weight. The maximum protein content (15.10 +/- 0.34 g/100 g), carbohydrate (1.25 +/- 0.06 g/100 g), lipids (5.25 +/- 0.13 g/100 g) and moisture (76.15 +/- 0.9 g/100 g) was noted in clam feed experiment. The maximum feed was also utilized during the clam fed experiment (45.39 +/- 0.03 g). The moderate feed utilization were observed during the green mussel fed experiment (42.51 +/- 0.02 g). The lowest feed utilization was observed in pellet fed experiment (23.75 +/- 0.01 g). The water quality parameters were analyzed in the culture tank before and after the experiment.