Growth of Pteria colymbus (Roeding, 1798) in suspended culture in Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela

Over a 10-month period, we examined the growth of shell height and width, and of mass of the shell and tissues, of juveniles of Pteria colymbus (initially measuring 13.5 mm in shell height) placed in a suspended culture at 8-m depth at Turpialito in the Golfo de Cariaco, Venezuela. A high growth rate was observed for all body parameters. Shell parameters increased rapidly during the first 5 months and then at lower rates until the end of the study, and total tissue mass increased at a rapid and almost steady rate throughout the study. Mortality during the study was negligible. The maximum size predicted by the von Bertalanffy growth equation (L sub( arrow left ) = 71 mm) was near the maximal size observed in natural populations. P. colymbus seemed little affected by marked changes in environmental conditions during our study, because it showed continuous rapid growth rate. The rapid growth, low mortality, and availability of natural spat indicate that P. colymbus could be an excellent species for aquaculture in this region.