Stability of Formulated Diets and Feeding Response of Stage I Western Spiny Lobster, Panulirus cygnus, Phyllosomata

This study is a preliminary assessment of suitable binders and formats of potential formulated diets for hatchery growout of early‐stage western spiny lobster, Panulirus cygnus, phyllosomata. Six dry meal (each bound with a different binder) and three gelatinous (all bound using gelatine) diets were tested for stability in water over increasing periods of time (4, 8, and 12 h), and the feeding response to each was observed by video analysis. The gelatinous krill diet appears most suited to the larval feeding biology of P. cygnus phyllosomata as it elicited a heightened feeding response immediately following immersion, was most stable in water up to 4 h, and did not foul the maxillae during ingestion. The dry meal diets were not as stable in water and contributed to excessive fouling of the maxillae during ingestion. Of the dry meal diets, the most suitable was bound with 5% k‐carrageenan, presumably because of high moisture content and softer texture.