Effects of maternal diet on reproductive performance of O. maya and its consequences on biochemical characteristics of the yolk, morphology of embryos and hatchling quality

This study examined the effects of mixed diets (with the crab Callinectes spp. as the main component of the diet) on embryonic development and hatchling quality of Octopus maya. Several O. maya females were fed one of 4 different diets being 1) crab, 2) crab and squid, 3) crab and mussel and 4) crab and fish heads, in a 7:3 ratio. The effects of each diet on the reproductive performance were evaluated by quantifying the total number of eggs female−1, eggs clutch−1, hatchlings female−1, hatchling weight and hatchling quality, measured as the hatchling survival after 10days of fasting. In addition, the chemical characteristics of the diet were studied through determination of proximal analysis, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, its relation to the chemical characteristics of the yolk and the morphological characteristics of embryos. Results indicate that mixed diets delivered embryos with a combination of nutrients that promoted a better performance, compared to those from females fed crab exclusively. Females fed mixed diets apparently used energetic amino acids (AAs) to synthesize yolk, which play essential roles in embryo metabolism. In addition, females fed mixed diets used saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids (FAs) in the diet to provide yolk with a combination of FAs that allowed hatchlings a better performance during the first days of culture. Mixed diets used in the present study could have the nutritional components to satisfy nutritional requirements for reproduction in this octopus species. •We provide information about optimal diets for Octopus maya reproduction.•Mixed diets delivered better results compared to a mono-diet.•Crab and mussels mix diet increased hatchling quality.