207
12 Sepia pharaonis
(Nabhitabhata 1995, 2000; Nabhitabhata and Nilaphat 1999). However, the small
weight of 370 g turns out to be an advantage, since the small final size is optimal for
frozen human food product processing and packaging. In addition, the live cuttlefish of this size are more suitable for ornamental aquarium displays.
12.2 State of the Art
The culture of the pharaoh cuttlefish throughout the life cycle is feasible in either
open or closed seawater systems. Broodstocks collected from the wild can reproduce
in captivity. Egg capsules are collected and nursed under a controlled environment
until hatching after about 14 days at 28 °C. The hatching rate is higher than 90 %.
Hatchlings are fed with wild-collected live food for about 30 days (Nabhitabhata
and Nilaphat 1999). The volume of water and density are managed to facilitate rapid
growth and a high survival in the nursing phase. The ongrowing phase starts after
the young are trained to feed on dead food, which is the critical period for aquaculture. The daily growth rate is 1.4 % in length and 3.4 % in weight, throughout the
culture period of 210 days. The final size varies depending on the culture conditions, e.g. temperature, nutritional content of food, period of training, etc. Less than
500 g weight of the cuttlefish is required for the frozen food industry (Nabhitabhata
1995). The culture period is recommended to be about 150–210 days with harvest
before spawning. Live cuttlefish of similar size are required for the home aquarium
trade. Live feed required in the nursing phase is the bottleneck for large-scale aquaculture. However, the large-scale production of live feed and the additional enriched
Artemia is feasible. The feasibility of producing artificial feed for the ongrowing
phase is higher than that for the nursing phase.
12.3 Broodstock Maintenance
Live pharaoh cuttlefish are collected alive from squid traps operating near the shore
in Thai waters. The local fisherman maintains live cuttlefish in a partition of the boat
where water can flow through (“live chamber”). Cuttlefish can survive for more
than 24 h in this chamber. The body weight of the captured individuals that will
become spawners range from 400 to 1,500 g, with a mantle length of 200–300 mm.
At landing, cuttlefish are transferred into a plastic transportation tank, with a capacity of 500 L and are then transported to the hatchery. They are maintained in 2-m
3
concrete tanks (Fig. 12.1) at a male to female ratio of 1:2, which is similar to the
ratio of 1:1.8 that is found for cuttlefish caught in traps (Chotiyaputta and Yamrungreung 1998). Cuttlefish will mate within the first hour after being released into the
tank. Pieces of fishing net, with a 25-mm mesh size and sinkers, are put in the tanks
as artificial substrates. (For details, see also Chap. 7 “Aquaculture to Restocking”,
this volume).
12 Sepia pharaonis
(Nabhitabhata 1995, 2000; Nabhitabhata and Nilaphat 1999). However, the small
weight of 370 g turns out to be an advantage, since the small final size is optimal for
frozen human food product processing and packaging. In addition, the live cuttlefish of this size are more suitable for ornamental aquarium displays.
12.2 State of the Art
The culture of the pharaoh cuttlefish throughout the life cycle is feasible in either
open or closed seawater systems. Broodstocks collected from the wild can reproduce
in captivity. Egg capsules are collected and nursed under a controlled environment
until hatching after about 14 days at 28 °C. The hatching rate is higher than 90 %.
Hatchlings are fed with wild-collected live food for about 30 days (Nabhitabhata
and Nilaphat 1999). The volume of water and density are managed to facilitate rapid
growth and a high survival in the nursing phase. The ongrowing phase starts after
the young are trained to feed on dead food, which is the critical period for aquaculture. The daily growth rate is 1.4 % in length and 3.4 % in weight, throughout the
culture period of 210 days. The final size varies depending on the culture conditions, e.g. temperature, nutritional content of food, period of training, etc. Less than
500 g weight of the cuttlefish is required for the frozen food industry (Nabhitabhata
1995). The culture period is recommended to be about 150–210 days with harvest
before spawning. Live cuttlefish of similar size are required for the home aquarium
trade. Live feed required in the nursing phase is the bottleneck for large-scale aquaculture. However, the large-scale production of live feed and the additional enriched
Artemia is feasible. The feasibility of producing artificial feed for the ongrowing
phase is higher than that for the nursing phase.
12.3 Broodstock Maintenance
Live pharaoh cuttlefish are collected alive from squid traps operating near the shore
in Thai waters. The local fisherman maintains live cuttlefish in a partition of the boat
where water can flow through (“live chamber”). Cuttlefish can survive for more
than 24 h in this chamber. The body weight of the captured individuals that will
become spawners range from 400 to 1,500 g, with a mantle length of 200–300 mm.
At landing, cuttlefish are transferred into a plastic transportation tank, with a capacity of 500 L and are then transported to the hatchery. They are maintained in 2-m
3
concrete tanks (Fig. 12.1) at a male to female ratio of 1:2, which is similar to the
ratio of 1:1.8 that is found for cuttlefish caught in traps (Chotiyaputta and Yamrungreung 1998). Cuttlefish will mate within the first hour after being released into the
tank. Pieces of fishing net, with a 25-mm mesh size and sinkers, are put in the tanks
as artificial substrates. (For details, see also Chap. 7 “Aquaculture to Restocking”,
this volume).