The fertilized eggs, auricularia larvae and one month old juveniles of Holothuria scabra, obtained from
induced spawning were used for various experiments to assess the effect of salinity on hatching rate and
larval and early juvenile growth. The experiments were conducted for two days on hatching rate of
fertilized eggs, for ten days on larval survival, growth and development and for 30 days on juvenile’s
growth rate. The maximum hatching of 39% at 35 ppt, followed by 32% at 33 ppt indicated the suitability
of an ambient salinity of 33 to 35 ppt for effective hatching of fertilized eggs. High survival, growth
rate and fastest development of auricularia were obtained at salinity between 33 and 35 ppt. The maximum
growth rate in length and weight, was at 30 ppt, which may be the optimum for juvenile rearing.
The one way ANOVA on differences in the hatching rate, larval growth and survival rate and juvenile
growth rate at different salinities indicated high level of significance (p<0.001 )
