Combined effects of water exchange regimes and calcium carbonate additions on growth and survival of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata Link 1807) in recirculating grow-out system

To determine a suitable culture environment to maximize growth and survival, the hatchery‐reared juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, were held in plastic rearing tanks at four calcium carbonate additions of 0, 100 and 300 g tonne^?1, and four water exchange regimes of 0‐, 15‐, 30‐ and 60‐day intervals in a recirculating grow‐out system for 120 days. The results clearly showed that growth was greatest between water exchange regimes of 15‐ and 30‐day intervals and all calcium carbonate additions, with water exchange regimes of 0‐ and 60‐day intervals resulting in poor growth. Final survival was highest between water exchange regimes of 15‐ and 30‐day intervals, and all calcium carbonate additions, with water exchange regimes of 0‐day intervals and all calcium carbonate additions resulting in high mortalities. This study showed that water exchange regimes had a stronger influence on the growth of juvenile B. areolata than calcium carbonate additions. It is recommended that B. areolata juveniles be maintained within the water exchange regimes range of 15–30‐day intervals and at calcium carbonate additions between 0 and 500 g tonne^?1, providing optimum conditions for production of this species in a recirculating grow‐out system.     

Growth and water quality for growing-out of juvenile spotted Babylon, Babylonia areolata, at different water-exchange regimes in a large-scale operation of earthen ponds

Growth and water quality for growing-out of juvenile spotted Babylon, Babylonia areolata, were determined at three water-exchange regimes of 7-, 15- and 30-day intervals in large-scale operation of earthen ponds over a 5-month period. Results showed that growth was significantly different among the water-exchange treatments (P < 0.05). The higher body weight gains and shell length increments were observed in snails held at water exchange of 7- and 15-day intervals when compared with those held at water exchange of 30-day intervals. At the end of the experiment, average body weight gains were 4.22, 3.73 and 2.77 g for snails held in water-exchange treatments of 7-, 15- and 30-day intervals, respectively, and 16.63, 15.04 and 13.78 mm for those of shell length increments, respectively, The average final survivals were 83.60, 80.90 and 74.20% for snails held in water-exchange treatments of 7-, 15- and 30-day intervals, respectively. Seawater temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite–nitrogen and ammonia–nitrogen had gradually changed throughout the culture period for all water-exchange treatments. With one exception, the total alkalinity showed the greatest changes during the culture period for all water-exchange treatments ranging from 58.67–97.50 mg/l.     

Effect of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance of juvenile spotted Babylon (Babylonia areolata Link 1807)

A growth trial was conducted to determine the effects of dietary carbohydrate level on growth performance, feed utilization and metabolism of juvenile spotted babylon. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic experimental diets (48% crude protein and 15 MJ kg^− 1 diet) using wheat starch as the carbohydrate source, were formulated to contain six carbohydrate levels. Triplicate groups of 45 animals (initial average weight, 168.39 ± 0.69 mg) were stocked in 120-l tanks and fed to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 weeks. Growth performance and feed utilization were significantly affected by dietary carbohydrate level. Maximum weight gain and specific growth rate occurred at 20% dietary starch inclusion, survival and soft body to shell ratios were not significantly different among diets. There were significant differences in protein, lipid, moisture and glycogen content in soft body. Glycogen content in soft body was positively correlated with dietary starch level. The activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase were significantly affected by dietary starch level, with both peaking in the 20% treatment; however, there were no significant differences in 6-phosphofructokinase activity in any treatment. Quadratic regression analysis of weight gain against dietary starch level indicated that the optimal dietary carbohydrate level for maximum weight gain of juvenile spotted babylon is 27.1% of dry diet.     

Effects of stocking density and water exchange regimes on growth and survival of juvenile spotted babylon, Babylona areolata (Link), cultured in experimental earthen ponds

The growth and survival of juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata , were determined at five stocking densities (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 snails m⁻²) and three water exchange regimes (7-, 15- and 21-day intervals) in experimental earthen ponds over a 6-month experimental period. The results showed that the growth of spotted babylons was not significantly different among any density treatments ( P <0.05). At the end of the experiment, the average growth rates in body weights were 0.59, 0.59, 0.58, 0.42 and 0.41 g month⁻¹ respectively. Growth was significantly different among the different water-exchange treatments ( P <0.05). The higher body-weight gains were observed in snails held at water exchanges of 7- and 15-day intervals, when compared with those held at water exchange of 30-day intervals. At the end of the experiment, average body-weight gains were 4.22, 3.67 and 2.68 g for snails held in water-exchange treatments of 7-, 15- and 30-day intervals respectively. This study recommended that stocking densities ≤300 snails m⁻² and water exchange of 7–15-day intervals are suitable for cultured B. areolata juveniles in earthen pond.     

Economic analysis of a pilot commercial production for spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata (Link 1807), of marketable sizes using a flow-through culture system in Thailand

This article examines the economic considerations involved in the production of spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) in Thailand. A financial analysis of the construction and operating costs of a pilot commercial production of spotted babylon of marketable sizes is provided, based upon proven practical techniques and production data for a flow‐through growout system. The investment required for a spotted babylon growout hatchery producing 990 kg per year is estimated to be US$4528.8. The annual cost of operating such a hatchery is estimated to be US$4624.1. The cost of producing 990 kg of marketable‐size spotted bablyon with a survival rate of 95% is estimated to be US$4.91 per kg of snails produced. Cash flow analysis showed that a constant selling price of US$5.8 kg^?1 results in positive cash flow by year 4. The proposed enterprise is marginally feasible if cost can be considerably reduced by targeting production and integrating hatchery and growout operations.     

Effects of feeding rates on the growth, survival and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon Babylonia areolata Link 1807 in a flowthrough seawater system

The effects of feeding levels on the growth, survival and feed utilization of hatchery-reared juvenile Babylonia areolata Link 1807 were assessed at four daily rations of 3%, 5%, 10% and 15% of body weight. Three duplicated groups of juveniles (mean initial body weight 0.26 ± 0.3 g) were stocked into indoor rearing tanks supplied with a flowthrough system of ambient natural seawater for 150 days. Growth in body weight differed significantly (P < 0.05) among the various feeding levels. Final body weight of individual snails increased with increased feeding ration at a particular ration level. Meanwhile, increasing the daily ration to 10% and 15% significantly improved growth and feed utilization efficiency. The food conversion ratios (FCRs) for the 3% and 5% feeding levels were significantly lower than those for the other feeding levels. Final survival was best at feeding levels of 10% and 15% of body weight, ranging between 96.9% and 97.3%, but was very poor at the 3% and 5% feeding levels, ranging from only 49.5% to 54.8%.     

Growout of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Babylonia areolate</Emphasis> link 1807) to marketable size at four stocking densities in flow-through and recirculating seawater systems

Hatchery reared juvenile spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata, were raised in canvas rearing tanks at four stocking densities (100, 200, 300 and 400 ind. m^–2) in flow-through and recirculating seawater systems until they reached the marketable sizes of 100–140 snails/kg. At all stocking densities, final increments in mean length and weight of snails held in flow-through systems were higher than those in recirculating systems, there was a significant effect (p < 0.05) of culture system on final length and weight. Mean (±SE) survival of snails held at 100 ind. m^–2 in the flow-through system was 100.0 ± 0.1% but was not significantly higher than survival in any other treatment (p > 0.05). Mean survival of snails held in the recirculating system was not significantly lower than at any stocking density in the flow-through system (p > 0.05).     

Growth performances for monoculture and polyculture of hatchery‐reared juvenile spotted babylon,Babylonia areolata Link, 1807, in large‐scale earthen ponds

This study was conducted to determine the feasibility of growing out hatchery‐reared spotted babylon juvenile (Babylonia areolata) in earthen ponds. The growth, survival and water quality for monoculture of spotted babylon were compared with the two polyculture trials with sea bass (Lates calcarifer) or milkfish (Chanos chanos). This study provided good results for growth and survival of spotted babylon in earthen ponds. The mean body weight gain of snails held in the monoculture was 5.39±0.08 g, and 4.07±0.16 and 4.25±0.11 g for those held in the polyculture with sea bass or milkfish respectively. Food conversion ratios (FCR) were 2.69, 2.96 and 2.71 for snails held in the monoculture and polyculture with sea bass and milkfish, respectively, and the final survival rates were 84.94%, 74.30% and 81.20% respectively. There were no significant differences in each parameter of water quality among the treatments but significant differences among the culture period were present (P<0.05). Salinity and total alkalinity showed the greatest changes during the culture period for all treatments. Seawater temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrite–nitrogen and ammonia–nitrogen gradually changed over the culture period for all the treatments. The present study indicated the technical feasibility for monoculture and polyculture of B. areolata to marketable sizes in earthen ponds.     

Growth trials for polyculture of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) and sea bass (Lates calcarifer) in a flow-through sea water system

Juvenile spotted babylon (Babylonia areolata) and sea bass (Lates calcarifer) were cultured in 11.5‐m³ indoor rearing tanks supplied with flow‐through of ambient natural sea water over a 120‐day experiment. Each species, stocked at the following densities for the following treatments, was tested with three replicates per treatment: 5000 B. areolata per tank (Treatment 1); 200 L. calcarifer per tank (Treatment 2); and 5000 B. areolata plus 200 L. calcarifer per tank (Treatment 3),. The average growth (length and weight), feed conversion ratio and total production of spotted babylon and sea bass from Treatment 3 were not significantly different from those of Treatment 1 and 2 (P > 0.05). Average survival rates for both spotted babylon and sea bass exceeded 95% for all treatments.     

Combined effects of temperature,salinity and rearing density on growth and survival of juvenile ivory shell,Babylonia areolata (Link 1807) population in Thailand

The ivory shell, Babylonia areolata (Link 1807), has been exploited as an important aquaculture organism along the southern China coast. In order to obtain optimal culture conditions for ivory shell juvenile, the central composite rotatable design was used to estimate the combined effects of temperature, salinity and rearing density on accumulated growth rate (AGR) and survival rate (SR). The results showed that the linear effects of temperature and rearing density on both growth and survival were highly significant (P < 0.01), but there was no significant effect on salinity (P > 0.05). The quadratic effects of temperature, salinity and rearing density influenced growth significantly (P < 0.01). The quadratic effects of temperature and salinity on survival of juvenile snail were significant (P < 0.01), the combined effects between the quadratic effect of temperature and the linear effect of rearing density influenced survival significantly (P < 0.01); the interactive effects of temperature, salinity and rearing density played a significant role in survival (P < 0.01). As can be seen from the above experimental results, the effects of temperature and salinity on growth and survival of B. areolata were strengthened with enhanced rearing density in a certain range and vice versa. By optimization using the response surface method, the optimal point was found at a temperature of 26.81°C, a salinity of 28.76 ppt and a rearing density of 527.07 ind m^?2. Under these conditions, the optimal AGR and SR were 36.84 mg day^?1 and 99.99%, respectively, with a satisfaction function value of 99.71%.     

Effects of different feeding regimes on growth, survival and feed conversion of hatchery-reared juveniles of the gastropod mollusc spotted babylon Babylonia areolata (Link 1807) in flowthrough culture systems

The effects of feeding regimes on the growth, survival and feed conversion of hatchery-reared juvenile spotted babylon Babylonia areolata (Link) were assessed. Six continuous and discontinuous feeding regimes were fed at satiation to triplicate groups of snails in 200-L flowthrough (3.0 L h^–1) indoor rectangular tanks for 180 days. Shell length growth rates of juvenile B. areolata did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between the various feeding treatments. Body weight gain and feed conversion of snails were not significantly different between various feeding treatments, nor were there significant differences in mean survival between any of the feeding treatments.     

Effects of stocking density and algal concentration on the survival,growth and metamorphosis of Bobu Ivory shell,Babylonia formosae habei (Neogastropoda: Buccinidae) larvae

Independent and combined effects of stocking density and algal concentration on the survival, growth and metamorphosis of the Bobu Ivory shell Babylonia formosae habei larvae were assessed using a 5 × 5 factorial design with densities of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.50 larvae mL⁻¹ and algal concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 × 10⁴ cells mL⁻¹ in the laboratory. Larval growth, survival and metamorphosis were significantly affected by both the independent effects of stocking density and algal concentration and by their interaction. The highest per cent survival (72.5%) and metamorphosis (49.5%), fastest growth (41.57 μm day⁻¹) and shortest time to initial metamorphosis (10 days) all occurred at the lowest stocking density and the highest algal concentration. Both crowding and food limitation had independently negative impacts on the survival, growth and metamorphosis of larvae, and these negative impacts were further strengthened by the interaction of a higher stocking density and a lower algal concentration. Moreover, the results suggest that stocking density and algal concentration obviously played different roles in determining larval survival and growth. To maximize survival and growth, B. formosae habei larvae should be reared at a lower stoking density of 0.25 larvae mL⁻¹ and fed a higher algal concentration of 25 × 10⁴ cells mL⁻¹ in large-scale hatchery seed culture.     

投喂频率对工厂化循环水养殖星康吉鳗生长、生理指标及其水质的影响

本研究采用生理学和实验生态学方法探究了工厂化循环水养殖模式下,不同投喂频率对星康吉鳗(Conger myriaster)生长、生理指标以及水质因子的影响。选用初始体重为(150.64±5.43) g的星康吉鳗为研究对象,实验共设2组,分别为1次/天(T1组)、2次/天(T2组),每组3个重复,实验周期为70d。实验每14d检测各养殖池实验鱼平均体重和循环水系统水质指标;实验结束时,采集星康吉鳗血液、组织相关样品,用于生长、生理指标的测定与分析。结果显示,T2组终末体重(FBW)、终末体长(FBL)、增重率(WGR)、特定生长率(SGR)显著高于T1组(P<0.05),T1组饲料系数(FCR)显著高于T2组(P<0.05)。T1组血清丙二醛(MDA)显著高于T2组(P<0.05),T2组肝脏谷草转氨酶(AST)、肝脏谷丙转氨酶(ALT)、肠道胰蛋白酶(TPS)显著高于T1组(P<0.05)。T1组、T2组出口水NH₄⁺-N、NO₂^--N 24 h变化中分别有1处(24:00)和...     

Individual growth variation and its relationship with survival in juvenile Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg)

In order to study individual growth variability and its relationship with survival in juvenile Crassostrea gigas, parental oysters were sampled at four sites located along the French Atlantic coast and bred under controlled hatchery conditions. Four groups of larvae were obtained by crossing five males and five females from each of the four sites, and a fifth group by crossing these 20 males and 20 females together in a pool. Larvae were reared under conditions allowing the maintenance of a maximum variability of size and gave five experimental groups. Oysters were individually monitored for growth and survival from 3 to 10 months after fertilization. The individual growth performances were relatively stable over time and no noticeable compensation for growth occurred. Early growth rate was a very good predictor of size later in life: 66% of variation in the live weight at 10 months could be explained by variation in the initial growth rate calculated between 3 and 4 months. A significant group effect was observed on survival and on growth rate. Mortality mostly occurred between 3 and 5 months and appeared to affect the slow-growing animals more. However, two groups can be distinguished among those which died during the experimental period, one which showed a decrease in weight and the other whose growth was similar to surviving oysters. These results are discussed in the light of usual oyster farming practices and selective breeding. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The effect of different daily feed rations on the growth, condition, survival and feed conversion of juvenile pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) reared with dry feed in net cages

Pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) fingerlings, trained on dry feed, were kept in pond cages and fed with 2, 4 or 6% of their actual body weight in dry feed. The effect of the daily ration and the temperature of the pond water on the growth, survival, condition factor and feed conversion were observed in an 8-week experiment. The appropriate daily ration at 17–18°C was 2%, while at 24–25°C the 4% ration seemed to be advisable for the practice. The two higher rations led to significantly higher final body weights than the lowest feeding ration. There were no significant differences between the final condition factors or the survivals of the groups. The best feed conversion (FCR) was achieved at the 2% daily ration group and the worst at the 6% group in each week of the experiment.     

Effects of diet transition regimen on survival, growth and lipid composition of intensively reared Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, larvae

Replicated groups of Atlantic cod were rearedfor up to 40 days in 100 l tanks stocked at adensity of 75 eggs l^–1. Larvae weretransferred from rotifers, Brachionusplicatilis, to either fresh-hatched orenriched Artemia nauplii on each of days5, 15 and 25 post-hatch (ph). Rotifers wereprogressively withdrawn over a 5 day period.The type of Artemia offered(fresh-hatched, enriched) did not affectsurvival or growth rates at any of the 3transfer ages. Larvae transferred toArtemia from day 5 ph suffered a highincidence of swimbladder over-inflation andhigh mortality during metamorphosis (< 1%survival to day 36 ph). Cod in the day 15 and day25 transfer groups did not differ significantlyin weight-specific growth rate or size on day40 ph (mean standard length 13.8 mm, dry weight3.8 mg). Highest mean survival rates to day 40ph (18.1%) and lowest mortality followingtransfer to nursery tanks were also observed inthe day 25 transfer groups. Fish that receivedArtemia from day 5 ph containedcirca twice as much total lipid per unit bodyweight and had a 30% higher triacylglycerol(TAG) content compared to all other groups.Ratios of the essential fatty acidsdocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoicacid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) alsodiffered according to age-at-transition.DHA:EPA ratio exceeded 1 only in codtransferred to Artemia on day 25 ph.Based on these findings, it is recommended thatintensively reared Atlantic cod should continueto receive rotifers until completion ofmetamorphosis.     

Effects of water depth on survival and growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Argopecten purpuratus</Emphasis> (Lamarck, 1819) spat in northern Chile

Collection and suspended culture of Argopecten purpuratus spat in Japanese-type collectors was undertaken in the Rinconada Marine Reserve (Antofagasta, Chile) to determine growth variations between surface and bottom waters. Scallop spat was collected at 16-m depth and grown at 1- and 16-m depths. An initial settlement of ca. 13,000 post-larvae per bottom collector (2 cohorts) was observed on 3 February 2001. Two new cohorts settled in bottom collectors on 3 March, while no spat settlement occurred in surface collectors. The four cohorts exhibited substantial and different mortality rates over the study period, depending on the cohort and on-growing depth. The first and second cohorts exhibited mortality rates of 80.3 and 53.1% in bottom collectors, respectively, versus 29 and 43.6% in surface structures. The third and fourth cohorts exhibited mortality rates of 21.4 and 59.7% in bottom collectors, respectively. Mean shell height of scallop spat after 88 days of culture was 6.46 mm for the first cohort and 4.37 mm for the second cohort in bottom collectors, versus 10.33 and 7.31 mm in surface collectors, respectively. Mean post-larval growth rate in bottom collectors (86 μm day⁻¹) was significantly lower than growth rate in surface collectors (146 μm day⁻¹). Factors explaining the depth-related mortality and growth rates are discussed to improve scallop culture in the Reserve. It was concluded from the results that culture improvement in Antofagasta Bay would require collecting spat in bottom waters and raising it near the surface during initial cultivation stages.     

The effect of feeding on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of juvenile tench Tinca tinca (L.) reared in a water recirculating system

The effect of feeding frequency (one, three, and continuous feeding), feed ration (0.2, 0.5, 0.8% of total fish biomass), and feeding per se on the oxygen consumption (OC, mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) and ammonia excretion (AE, mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) of juvenile tench (body weight 15–19 g) and variations in these parameters in daily cycles were examined. Fish metabolism was studied in a recirculating system (rearing tanks of 0.2 m³, water temperature 23 °C). It was found that oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion depended significantly on feed ration. An increase of feed ration from 0.2 to 0.8% of fish biomass caused an increase of OC and AE from 126.80 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 1.95 mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ to 187.35 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 8.80 mg TAN kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (p<0.05). There was no dependence between feeding frequency and the mean rate of oxygen consumption. However, the relationship between feeding frequency and ammonia excretion by juvenile tench was statistically significant (p<0.05). Feeding frequency significantly affected daily fluctuations of AE and OC. It was found that diurnal variations in metabolic rates were strictly related to tench feeding, and the daily variations of AE were significantly higher than OC.     

Effects of daphnia (Moina micrura) plus chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) or microparticle diets on growth and survival of larval loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)

Culture performance beyond metamorphosis of larval loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) was examined in a feeding experiment of the early development stage (20 days after hatch; DAH). Total length, dry weight, length- and weight-specific growth rate (SGR) and survival were monitored in different diet regimes. During 20 days, diet treatments included: microparticle diets (A); live daphnia (Moina micrura) (B); live daphnia plus live chlorella (Chlorella pyrenoidosa) (C); and live daphnia plus microparticle diets (D). Fish survival rates during 20 days were 21.23 ± 4.2% (A), 73.19 ± 2.8% (B), 90.76 ± 3% (C) and 91.46 ± 3.1% (D), respectively. Length- and weight-specific growth rate after 20 DAH (final mean SGR; % day⁻¹) were 5.36 ± 0.44 and 15.75 ± 1.52 (A), 9.29 ± 1.25 and 23.47 ± 2.23 (B), 9.42 ± 1.55 and 24.88 ± 2.9 (C) and 9.55 ± 1.23 and 24.40 ± 2.75 (D), respectively. Fish in treatments B, C and D displayed higher growth rates and were significantly longer and heavier than fish in treatment A by the end of the experiment (Ρ < 0.05). Fish in treatment A had highly significant greater (Ρ < 0.001) mortalities than in treatments B, C and D. There were no significant differences in any growth parameter between fish in treatments B, C and D, but the survivals in treatments C and D (90.76% and 91.46%) were significantly higher than in treatment B (73.19%, Ρ < 0.05). The results demonstrated that enriched prey and co-feeding may serve as a potential feeding strategy for loach larvae, and the form of co-feeding reduces the costs and dependence on live foods to a certain extent. We concluded that larval loach should be reared over metamorphosis using either of the following methods: feed with live daphnia supplemented with microparticle diets or with live chlorella. However, a prolonged rearing period of loach larvae is needed to detect nutritional problems and observe remote effects of co-feeding on weaning in the future.     

A comparison of the growth and survival of two freshwater crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), under different temperature and density regimes

Growth experiments carried out with two juvenile crayfish species, Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz and Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), at different temperatures and densities highlighted the problem of cannibalism under conditions aimed at intensifying crayfish production. Cannibalism proved to be much lower in A. leptodactylus than P. leniusculus, suggesting that the former might be the better candidate for astaciculture. In the first of two population survival trials, A. leptodactylus showed a higher survival rate than P. leniusculus, with 26% of P. leniusculus surviving in the first replicate, compared to 42.3% of P. leniusculus, and 40.76% surviving in the second replicate, compared to 47.6% of P. leniusculus. The same trend was observed in the second experiment, with P. leniusculus showing survival rates of 48.5 and 55.3% (first and second replicates, respectively) in comparison to 65.2 and 68.2%, respectively, for A. leptodactylus. It is therefore highly likely that if P. leniusculus were to become established in Turkey, it would outcompete the native A. leptodactylus even if it were not to be devastated by the crayfish plague that has decimated the native species. The experiments also highlighted the problem of differential growth, with some juveniles hardly growing at all while others reached a relatively large size. The range in carapace length (CL) was 9–18 mm for A. leptodactylus and 8.5–18.5 mm CL for P. leniusculus at the end of the first experiment. While both species grew quickly, P. leniusculus hatched earlier, giving it an advantage over A. leptodactylus; consequently, by the end of the summer, the juveniles of the former were larger than those of A. leptodactylus. Specific growth rate values showed that the juveniles of the two species had similar growth rates. The results also revealed that growth was not significantly affected by density in both species at 15°C, but at 25°C, growth was significantly better at a density of 234 juveniles m⁻² than at 468 juveniles m⁻², and better at 468 juveniles m⁻² than at 937 juveniles m⁻² (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). We conclude that P. leniusculus is a good candidate for aquaculture as it has a rapid growth rate and early hatching and maturity; however, its aggressive behavior may make it a less attractive proposition than A. leptodactylus, which is also fast growing but less aggressive. This study is a part of PhD study of M.M. Harlıoğlu, who is supported by Fırat University Elazığ, Turkey.