The effect of temperature and artificial diets on growth rates of juvenileHaliotis tuberculata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Growth rates of Haliotis tuberculata were evaluated at three different temp eratures (15, 18, and 22 degrees C) when provided two artificial diets (fis h meal and casein meal). Juveniles fed the fish meal diet and cultured at 2 2 degrees C produced higher growth rates on shell length and body weight (1 34.81 mu m day(-1) and 3,205 mu g day(-1)), respectively. To addition, the soft tissue weight/shell weight ratio was found to be the highest in these juveniles. No differences in proportions of crude protein, crude lipids, an d moisture content were found between diets. Survival of juveniles during t he feeding trial was not affected by the dietary treatments. The feed conve rsion ratio did differ significantly between low (15 degrees C) and highest (18 and 22 degrees C) temperatures.