Growth and reproduction of the benthic arrowwormParaspadella gotoi(Chaetognatha) in laboratory culture

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Abstract
We have developed methods for the laboratory culture of chaetognaths over a number of generations, and have documented growth and reproduction of the benthic arrowworm Paraspadella gotoi cultivated with different foods and temperatures. We classified growing P. gotoi into four stages based on predatory ability: non-feeding, first feeding, second feeding, and late stages. The first feeding stage was fed nauplii of Tigriopus japonicus; the second feeding stage was fed copepodites of T. japonicus or newly hatched Artemia salina nauplii. The duration of each of these stages was about 10 days at 24°C. The late-stage individuals preferred adult T. japonicus. The growth rate at 24°C was higher than at 17°C. Development from the first feeding stage to mature individuals at first egg-laying took about 50 days at 24°C and about 70 days at 17°C. Survival also strongly depended on temperature being higher at 17°C than 24°C. At 17°C, P. gotoi laid eggs four times at about 10-days intervals, and the estimated life span was 4–5 months.