A beneficial coculture: charm abalone Haliotis discus hannai and sea cucumber Stichopus japonicus

• Published in: Aquaculture Vol. 216; no. 1; pp. 87 - 93
• Main Authors: Kang, Kyong Ho, Kwon, Joon Yeong, Kim, Yong Man
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 10.02.2003; Elsevier Science; Elsevier Sequoia S.A
• Subjects: Abalone; Animal aquaculture; Animal productions; Aquaculture; Biological and medical sciences; Coculture; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Growth; Haliotis discus hannai; Inorganic nitrogen; Invertebrate aquaculture; Marine; Mollusca; Mollusks; Overwintering; Sea cucumber; Sediment; Stichopus japonicus; Survival; Coculture; Sea cucumber; Abalone; Sediment; Inorganic nitrogen; Growth; Overwintering; Survival; Echinodermata; Gastropoda; Method; Young animal; Marine environment; Holothuroidea; Profit; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Aquaculture
• ISSN: 0044-8486; 1873-5622
• DOI: 10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00203-X

Juvenile charm abalone Haliotis discus hannai (0.35±0.12 g) and sea cumber Stichopus japonicus (5.0±1.2 g) were cocultured in a static culture system for 90 days during the overwintering period. The levels of ammonium nitrogen and nitrite in the water of coculture groups were lower than those in control group (abalone alone) throughout the experiment. No mass mortality occurred in any groups, but abalone in coculture groups showed significantly better growth performance and higher survival, suggesting that coculture of juvenile abalone with sea cucumber, a deposit-feeding species, can reduce the levels of inorganic nitrogen in the water and consequently enhance growth. This coculture appears to be beneficial and could be developed as an alternative culture method in abalone farms during the heating-aided overwintering period.