ABSTRACT
Each tank in the post larval system contains animals of similar sizes, but sizes of conch will vary among tanks. It is necessary to feed post larvae according to size specific ingestion rates (cells/conch/day). The following quadratic regression equation can be used to determine number of cells needed per tray of conch as a function of shell length (Heyman unpubl. data):
F = [(0.0025 * (L)2) - (0.001 * L) + (0.042)] * count/tray Where F = food needed in cells/tray (* 109) Where L = shell length (mm)
With this equation a simple daily-projection feeding guide can be established using a spreadsheet to provide the number of cells of Chaetoceros required/tray. The program requires the input of initial shell length, initial conch count, growth rate/day, and mortality. The average daily amount of food fed to conch is 2.8 x 10n cells/5,000 conch at 1.2-3.8 mm SL, 3,1 x 1011 cells/1,600 conch at 3.8-12 mm SL, and 2.8 x 10u cells/ 480 conch at 12-25 mm SL.
