187
11.5 Hatchlings Culture
As this stage is considered as one of the bottlenecks in cuttlefish culture (Sykes
et al. 2006b), zoo-technology and nutritional knowledge have been updated in this
chapter.
11.5.1 Hatchlings Collection and Transfer
According to Paulij et al. (1991), cuttlefish embryos hatch during periods of darkness, so it is important to check the egg-hatching tank in the morning to eventually
collect and separate the new offspring.
After hatching, and depending on the purpose, hatchlings may be kept in the
same tank or carefully removed to a different one. According to the new animal welfare legislation and cephalopod proposed guidelines, this tank or group of animals
will be considered a captive population and assigned an identification, which should
include information regarding the generation and source of eggs.
If removed to a new tank, the physical and chemical conditions of the new tank
should be similar to those of the hatching tank, although these might be changed,
gradually, afterwards. Normally, the procedure of transfer, if the animals remain in
the hatchery, is to collect them individually using small movements with an aquarist
net. This reduces stress and abrasion against either tank or net. Afterwards, hatchlings are placed in a plastic container of small volume (preferably black) and then
submerged in the new tank. The latter will allow cuttlefish to swim freely out of this
container into the water of the new tank. If a transfer of the newly hatched animals
to other culture facilities is intended, then specific information for the species may
be found in the recent animal welfare review by Sykes et al. (2012).
11.5.2 Culture Conditions
11.5.2.1 Seawater Systems
The seawater systems used for the hatchling stage are similar to those used in other
life stages of the species and detailed for breeders (see Sect. 11.3.1). Nonetheless,
the type of tanks used should be adapted according to the most recently published
literature, where factors such as the culture densities of 500 hatchlings m
−2
, minimum bottom areas of 0.06 m
2
and the avoidance of sand and shelters (Sykes et al.
2003) should be considered. The use of flow-through seawater systems with UV
filtration is recommended to avoid problems derived from pathogens present in the
water. This stage of the life cycle is the most problematic and where most of the
mortality in cuttlefish culture usually occurs.
11 Sepia officinalis
11.5 Hatchlings Culture
As this stage is considered as one of the bottlenecks in cuttlefish culture (Sykes
et al. 2006b), zoo-technology and nutritional knowledge have been updated in this
chapter.
11.5.1 Hatchlings Collection and Transfer
According to Paulij et al. (1991), cuttlefish embryos hatch during periods of darkness, so it is important to check the egg-hatching tank in the morning to eventually
collect and separate the new offspring.
After hatching, and depending on the purpose, hatchlings may be kept in the
same tank or carefully removed to a different one. According to the new animal welfare legislation and cephalopod proposed guidelines, this tank or group of animals
will be considered a captive population and assigned an identification, which should
include information regarding the generation and source of eggs.
If removed to a new tank, the physical and chemical conditions of the new tank
should be similar to those of the hatching tank, although these might be changed,
gradually, afterwards. Normally, the procedure of transfer, if the animals remain in
the hatchery, is to collect them individually using small movements with an aquarist
net. This reduces stress and abrasion against either tank or net. Afterwards, hatchlings are placed in a plastic container of small volume (preferably black) and then
submerged in the new tank. The latter will allow cuttlefish to swim freely out of this
container into the water of the new tank. If a transfer of the newly hatched animals
to other culture facilities is intended, then specific information for the species may
be found in the recent animal welfare review by Sykes et al. (2012).
11.5.2 Culture Conditions
11.5.2.1 Seawater Systems
The seawater systems used for the hatchling stage are similar to those used in other
life stages of the species and detailed for breeders (see Sect. 11.3.1). Nonetheless,
the type of tanks used should be adapted according to the most recently published
literature, where factors such as the culture densities of 500 hatchlings m
−2
, minimum bottom areas of 0.06 m
2
and the avoidance of sand and shelters (Sykes et al.
2003) should be considered. The use of flow-through seawater systems with UV
filtration is recommended to avoid problems derived from pathogens present in the
water. This stage of the life cycle is the most problematic and where most of the
mortality in cuttlefish culture usually occurs.
11 Sepia officinalis