DIFFERENCES IN GROWTH AND MOLT FREQUENCY AMONG POST-PUERULI OF JASUS-EDWARDSII FED FRESH, AGED OR FROZEN MUSSELS

Growth in length and weight of post-pueruli of Jasus edwardsii (red ro ck lobster) fed one of six mussel diets was measured over three moult cycles. The diets consisted of opened cultured Mytilus galloprovincial is (blue mussel) or Perna canaliculus (greenlip mussel) fed fresh dail y or every third day or fed frozen daily. Differences in mussel specie s and freshness had significant effects on cumulative moult increments (length and weight) as well as moult frequency over the first three m oult cycles, Post-pueruli fed frozen mussels had significantly smaller growth increments than did those fed fresh mussels daily or every thi rd day, Post-pueruli fed frozen P. canaliculus grew significantly less than did those fed frozen M. galloprovincialis and they took signific antly longer to complete three moult cycles than did those fed in all other treatments. There were no significant differences in growth or m oult frequency between post-pueruli fed fresh mussels of either specie s daily or every third day. These results are discussed with regard to farming of J. edwardsii.