Growth of Pteria colymbus (Roding, 1798) in suspended culture in Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela

Over a 10-month period, we examined the growth of shell height and width, a nd of mass of the shell and tissues, of juveniles of Pteria colymbus (initi ally measuring 13.5 mm in shell height) placed in a suspended culture at 8- m depth at Turpialito in the Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela. A high growth rat e was observed for all body parameters. Shell parameters increased rapidly during the first 5 months and then at lower rates until the end of the stud y, and total tissue mass increased at a rapid and almost steady rate throug hout the study. Mortality during the study was negligible. The maximum size predicted by the von Bertalanffy growth equation (L-infinity = 71 mm) was near the maximal size observed in natural populations. P. colymbus seemed l ittle affected by marked changes in environmental conditions during our stu dy, because it showed continuous rapid growth rate. The rapid growth, low m ortality, and availability of natural spat indicate that P. colymbus could be an excellent species for aquaculture in this region.