Improving Survivorship of Giant Clams Larvae

Abstract

One of the problems faced in giant clams culture is high mortality rate during larvae stages. These series of research attempt to improve survivorship of giant clams larvae by several different treatments, such as applying antibiotics, nutrient addition, feeding with different microalgae, and introduction of zooxanthellae at different time. The results show that survivorship was significantly improved by applying Streptomycin (10 ppm) before fertilization and when it is combined with Chloramphenicol (5 ppm). Ammonium addition was also increased survivorship of giant clams larvae. On the other hand, feeding with different microalgae was not significantly improved the larvae survivorship. Introducing zooxanthellae at early stage before metamorphosis (day 3 – 4) was also improving survivorship of the larvae.