Dietary protein and carbohydrate requirement of juvenile Hawaiian limpet (Cellana sandwicensis Pease, 1861) fed practical diet

This study was conducted to evaluate dietary protein and carbohydrate requirement of juvenile Hawaiian limpets Cellana sandwincensis. A total of 64 juvenile limpets (3.12 ± 0.86 g) were fed five different dietary protein levels ranging from 270 to 470 g kg-1 for 90 days. Carbohydrate and lipid levels were held constant at 180 and 49.7 g kg-1, respectively. Weight gain and growth rates of the animals did not differ significantly (P>0.05) among the protein levels ranging from 270 g kg-1 (0.30 % day-1) to 470 g kg-1 (0.23 % day-1). Next, opihi were fed four diets with protein levels from 210 to 500 g kg-1 with a constant carbohydrate level at 120 g kg-1. Weight gain and specific growth rates of opihi increased with increasing dietary protein from 210 to 350 g kg-1, and significantly (P<0.05) decreased at the 500 g kg-1 diet. Highest weight gain, growth rates, and protein efficiency ratio were achieved at 350 g kg-1. Elevated carbohydrate levels (180–370 g kg-1) produced a significant difference (P<0.05) in growth. The fastest growth rates of animals were obtained with 270 g kg-1 (0.27 % day-1) and 320 g kg-1 (0.26 % day-1). The weight gain of animals fed 180 and 370 g kg-1 carbohydrate diets were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those of animals fed 270 and 320 g kg-1. We conclude that about 350 g kg-1 protein and 320 g kg-1 carbohydrate levels could be used for opihi.