Effects of different feeding regimes on growth, survival and feed conversion of hatchery-reared juveniles of the gastropod mollusc spotted babylon <i>Babylonia areolata</i> (Link 1807) in flowthrough culture systems

Abstract

The effects of feeding regimes on the growth, survival and feed conversion of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon Babylonia areolata (Link) were assessed. Six continuous and discontinuous feeding regimes were fed at satiation to triplicate groups of snails in 200-L flowthrough (3.0 L h–1) indoor rectangular tanks for 180 days. Shell length growth rates of juvenile B. areolata did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the various feeding treatments. Body weight gain and feed conversion of snails were not significantly different between various feeding treatments, nor were there significant differences in mean survival between any of the feeding treatments.