The completed life cycle of the octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier) under culture conditions: paralarval rearing using Artemia and zoeae, and first data on juvenile growth up to 8 months of age

Abstract

This paper shows innovating results on Octopus vu/garis Cuvier 1797 growth under culture conditions during the whole life cycle, Experiments were conducted at the Spanish Institute of Oceanography of Vigo (Spain), Using mean water temperature of 22,5°C, salinity of 35%0 and adult Artemia (1-4 mm of total length) along with a diet complement of Maja squinado zoeae as living prey, it was possible to obtain a 31.5% paralarval survival at day 40 after hatching. At this age, paralarvae had reached a dry weight of 9,5 mg, 23 suckers per arm, and they began the settlement process. First results on juvenile growth showed that they reached 0,5~,6 kg at the age of 6 months after hatching, and 2 months later, they attained weights ranging between 1A and 1,8 kg. Mean temperature of the ongrowing process was 18°C.