255
15 Euprymna hyllebergi and Euprymna tasmanica
and Nishiguchi 2011; Guerrero-Ferreira et al. 2012). Since the process of bacterial
colonization of the squid light organ begins immediately after hatching (Ruby and
McFall-Ngai 1992), independent aquaculture of the squids and their luminous bacterial partners could yield valuable results for biotechnological and biomedical
sciences (McFall-Ngai et al. 2012; Nyholm and Nishiguchi 2008). Because of these
newly developed models for basic research, the advancement of culturing techniques for species of Euprymna has been especially important for monitoring fitness
between generations, effects of inbreeding and, more importantly, diet and stress
under laboratory conditions (Nabhitabhata et al. 2005; Sinn 2005; Sinn et al. 2008;
Moltschaniwskyj and Carter 2010). Additionally, more information on their development, growth and time to reproduction can indicate whether all species have similar
life-history strategies, and if this is dependent upon habitat or other abiotic factors.
15.2 State of the Art
Both E� hyllebergi and E� tasmanica are small in size and found living within benthic
habitats. This is an advantage to provide culture conditions on a smaller scale with
lower cost and less requirement of facilities compared to those used for pelagic and
large-sized species. Euprymna can be cultured through several consecutive generations ensuring a supply of broodstocks. Broodstocks collected from the wild can
spawn in captivity and are maintained throughout the life history of the animal.
E� hyllebergi hatchlings are fed with wild-collected live feed for approximately
30 days, but later can be trained to accept dead feed. E� tasmanica hatchlings are
fed small mysid shrimp two times a day for approximately 6 weeks, and then moved
to a diet of ghost shrimp for the duration of their lives while in captivity. Interestingly, E� tasmanica adults were not trained to feed on dead material, and prefer not
to eat food items that do not move. These same facilities for raising juvenile squids
can be used for culture throughout the squid’s entire life cycle. The daily growth
rate for E� hyllebergi is 2.4 % in length and 7.5 % in weight through the culture
period of 100 days. Growth rates for E� tasmanica were approximately 3.5 % in
length and 10 % in weight for approximately 60 days. Growing demands for these
squid for use as both biotechnological and biomimetic experimental models as well
as ornamental animals for home aquaria and teaching laboratories are beneficial
for aquaculture and biomedicine, e.g. Nabhitabhata et al. (2005), Moltschaniwskyj
et al. (2007), Sinn and Moltschaniwskyj (2005) and Sinn et al. (2008).
15.3 Broodstocks Maintenance
Broodstocks of the Thai bobtail squid, E� hyllebergi, are collected live from otter
board trawlers and beam trawlers, operating along the eastern part of the Gulf of
Thailand, South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Onboard, the squids are maintained
in cylindrical fibreglass tanks of 50-L capacity containing 30 L of fresh seawater
15 Euprymna hyllebergi and Euprymna tasmanica
and Nishiguchi 2011; Guerrero-Ferreira et al. 2012). Since the process of bacterial
colonization of the squid light organ begins immediately after hatching (Ruby and
McFall-Ngai 1992), independent aquaculture of the squids and their luminous bacterial partners could yield valuable results for biotechnological and biomedical
sciences (McFall-Ngai et al. 2012; Nyholm and Nishiguchi 2008). Because of these
newly developed models for basic research, the advancement of culturing techniques for species of Euprymna has been especially important for monitoring fitness
between generations, effects of inbreeding and, more importantly, diet and stress
under laboratory conditions (Nabhitabhata et al. 2005; Sinn 2005; Sinn et al. 2008;
Moltschaniwskyj and Carter 2010). Additionally, more information on their development, growth and time to reproduction can indicate whether all species have similar
life-history strategies, and if this is dependent upon habitat or other abiotic factors.
15.2 State of the Art
Both E� hyllebergi and E� tasmanica are small in size and found living within benthic
habitats. This is an advantage to provide culture conditions on a smaller scale with
lower cost and less requirement of facilities compared to those used for pelagic and
large-sized species. Euprymna can be cultured through several consecutive generations ensuring a supply of broodstocks. Broodstocks collected from the wild can
spawn in captivity and are maintained throughout the life history of the animal.
E� hyllebergi hatchlings are fed with wild-collected live feed for approximately
30 days, but later can be trained to accept dead feed. E� tasmanica hatchlings are
fed small mysid shrimp two times a day for approximately 6 weeks, and then moved
to a diet of ghost shrimp for the duration of their lives while in captivity. Interestingly, E� tasmanica adults were not trained to feed on dead material, and prefer not
to eat food items that do not move. These same facilities for raising juvenile squids
can be used for culture throughout the squid’s entire life cycle. The daily growth
rate for E� hyllebergi is 2.4 % in length and 7.5 % in weight through the culture
period of 100 days. Growth rates for E� tasmanica were approximately 3.5 % in
length and 10 % in weight for approximately 60 days. Growing demands for these
squid for use as both biotechnological and biomimetic experimental models as well
as ornamental animals for home aquaria and teaching laboratories are beneficial
for aquaculture and biomedicine, e.g. Nabhitabhata et al. (2005), Moltschaniwskyj
et al. (2007), Sinn and Moltschaniwskyj (2005) and Sinn et al. (2008).
15.3 Broodstocks Maintenance
Broodstocks of the Thai bobtail squid, E� hyllebergi, are collected live from otter
board trawlers and beam trawlers, operating along the eastern part of the Gulf of
Thailand, South China Sea and Pacific Ocean. Onboard, the squids are maintained
in cylindrical fibreglass tanks of 50-L capacity containing 30 L of fresh seawater