Aldana Aranda, D.

Mazariegos-Villareal, A.

Serviere-Zaragoza, E.

Aquatic Commons

 Proceedings of the 61st  Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute     November 10 - 14, 2008   Gosier, Guadeloupe, French West Indies 
Preliminary Observation of Natural Feed of Queen Conch Strombus gigas 
 
ELISA SERVIERE-ZARAGOZA1, ALEJANDRA MAZARIEGOS-VILLAREAL1, and DALILA ALDANA ARANDA2 
1 Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Mar Bermejo 195. Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita,  
La Paz, B.C.S. 23090, Mexico. 
2CINVESTAV IPN Unidad Mérida, Laboratorio de Biología y Cultivo de Moluscos Km. 6 carretera antigua a Progreso 
Mérida, Yucatán, México 
 
ABSTRACT 
The queen conch Strombus gigas is a marine resource of ecological and economical importance in all the Caribbean countries.  
A severe depletion of most populations due to over-fishing is forcing the establishment of regulatory measures and closure of fishing 
areas in most Caribbean countries. Aquaculture programs are developing in the USA, Turk and Caicos, as well as Mexico and some 
other countries.  However, one of the bottlenecks for queen conch culture is the lack of well adapted formulated food for optimal 
growth in high density rearing.  Nutrient requirements for conch juveniles are slightly well-known (Davis 2000 and Aldana Aranda, 
et al. 2007).  To assess the natural diet of queen conch the examination of stomach contents was made from individuals fed with 
natural foods in the field.  The stomachs of conchs fed with natural foods were studied by analyzing stomach contain by optical 
microscopic with taxonomic references of Joly (1967), Jahn, et al. (1979), Brusca and Brusca (1999) and Graham and Wilcox 
(2000). The total number of items in stomach contents was 22, which 15 were in adult and 12 in juveniles.  The most diverse Phy-
lum was Rhodophyta with 5categories. The second largest groups were Cianophyta and Protozoa with three categories in each one.  
A seagrass had an important biomass in one of the adults.  These data to help to adjust better the feed formulation and the frequency 
of feeding to the real need of organism according to their age and size. 
 
KEY WORDS:  Queen conch, natural, food, stomach  
 
Alimentacion Natural del Caracol Rosa, Strobus gigas 
 
El caracol rosa Strombus gigas es el recurso pesquero de mayor importancia pesquera y ecológica en el Caribe.  La caída drás-
tica de los volúmenes de captura debido a la sobre pesca ha causado la instauración de medidas de regulación pesquera y el cierre de 
áreas de pesca en la mayor parte de los países del Caribe.  Los programas de acuacultura se han desarrollado en Estados Unidos, 
Turk and Caicos, México y otros países:  Sin embargo uno de los cuellos de botella para su cultivo es la falta de alimentos adecuada-
mente formulados para su óptimo crecimiento en densidades altas de cultivo. Los requerimientos nutricionales de esta especie en su 
fase juvenil son poco conocidos (Davis 2000 and Moreno and Aldana Aranda 2007). A fin de establecer la dieta natural del caracol 
rosa se examinaron contenidos estomacales de animales colectados en el medio natural, alimentados con una dieta natural. Los con-
tenidos estomacales fueron analizados con microscopio óptico utilizando las claves taxonómicas de Joly (1967), Jahn, et al. (1979), 
Brusca y Brusca (1999) y Graham and Wilcox (2000).  El total de especies encontradas en los contenidos estomacales fue de 22, de 
los cuales 15 estuvieron presentes en los adultos y 12 en los juveniles. El Phylum más diverso fue el de las Rhodophytas con 5 cate-
gorías.  El segundo grupo fue el de las Cianofitas y Protozoarios con tres categorías cada una de ellas.  Los pastos marinos represen-
tan una fuente importante de biomasa en los adultos. Los resultados de este trabajo ayudaran a ajustar la formulación de las dietas y 
la frecuencia de alimentación a las necesidades reales de alimentación de esta especie ajustándola a su edad y talla. 
 
PALABRAS CLAVES:  Caracol rosa, alimentaciòn, natural, estomacal, analisis  
 
Alimetation Naturel du Lambi Strombus gigas 
 
Le lambi Strombus gigas est une ressource marine de grande importance écologique et économique dans tous les pays de la 
Caraïbe. Une importante réduction de la plupart des populations a rendu nécessaire l’instauration de règlementations des pêches et la 
fermeture de zones de pêche dans la plupart des pays de la Caraïbe. Des programmes d’aquaculture se sont développés aux USA, à 
Turks et Caicos ainsi qu’au Mexique et dans quelques autres pays. Cependant un des goulots d’étranglement pour l’élevage du lambi 
est le manque d’aliment synthétique bien adapté pour une croissance optimale dans les conditions d’élevage intensif. 
 
MOTS CLÉS:  Lambi, natural, nutrition, contenu  
INTRODUCTION 
The queen conch Strombus gigas is a marine resource 
of ecological and economical importance in all the 
Caribbean countries.  The queen conch, Strombus gigas 
represents one of the most valuable demersal resources in 
the region, exceeded only by the spiny lobster. Nowadays, 
conch meat is no longer an inexpensive food as it was 
some years ago.  Conch meat prices at local markets vary 
from 10 to 15 US $/kg until 25 Euros / kg in the French 
West Indies, for locally fresh meat.  Queen conch is one of 
the largest herbivorous gastropod mollusks, which uses a 
highly extendable proboscis to graze macro algae and rake 
sea grass blades.  Its possession of a large crystalline style 
has been considered as a microphagouss gastropod. 
However, it may feed as well on macroalgae as on biofilm. 
Its digestive gland presents original features, probably 
related with its various functions and with feeding habits of 
queen conch.  Conchs are usually associated with sea grass 
beds adjacent to the shallow, coarse grained sand bars that 
 Serviere-Zaragosa, E. et al.    GCFI:61   (2009)        Page 515 
 
they previously inhabited.  Due to overexploitation of S. 
gigas stocks, aquaculture programs are developing in the 
Caribbean.  However, one of the bottlenecks for queen 
conch culture is the lack of well adapted formulated food 
for optimal growth in high density rearing.  Nutrient 
requirements for conch are slightly well-known. (Davis et 
al. 2000 and Moreno and Aldana Aranda 2007.  The goals 
of this study were to assess the natural diet of queen conch 
the examination of stomach contents was made from 
individuals fed with natural foods in the field. 
 
MATERIEL AND METHODS 
Conchs were sampled at San Pedro, Belize 18o 22’ N 
and 87 o 16’ W.  Conchs sampled were adult (with a shell 
length of 22 cm and a shell lip over 10 mm thick) and 
juvenile that un length shell under 15 cm.  Stomachs were 
processed through standard techniques and their contain 
were meshed at 700 µm, dried in absorbent paper and 
weighted at 0.002g with a Ohaus Explorer balance (+ 
0.002g).  The stomachs of conchs fed with natural foods 
were analyzing by optical microscopic with taxonomic 
references of Joly (1967), Jahn et al. (1979), Brusca and 
Brusca (1999) and Graham and Wilcox (2000).  Stomach 
contain was classified in filamentous algae, parenquymal 
algae, sea grass, mollusks, crustaceans, bryozoarios, chitin 
fragments, calcified fragments, unidentified material, sand, 
and fragments less than 700µm.  Each category was 
weighted. The systematic list was drawn up according to 
Graham and Wilcox (2000) for cyanophites algae.  Wynne 
(1986) classification was used for green, brown and red 
algae and its classification (http://www.itis.gov) for 
protozoa. 
 
RESULTS 
The total number of items in stomach contents was 22, 
of which 15 were were taken from adults and 12 from 
juveniles (Table 1).  The most diverse Phylum was 
Rhodophyta with five categories. Clase Florideophyceae, 
Orden Rhodymeniales Familia Champiaceae Champia sp. 
Orden Ceramiales, Familia Rhodomelaceae, Laurencia sp., 
and two others species which are not identified.  The 
second largest groups were Cianophyta and Protozoa with 
three categories each one:  Two of Chroococcales Orden 
with Gleocapsal sp Chrococcal sp founded in juveniles 
stomachs and Orden Nostocales with a filamentous 
Cianophyte without heterocistos.  A sea grass of Phyllum 
Magnioliophyta had an important biomass in one of the 
adults and juveniles.  Table 1 summarizes elements of 
contain stomachs of adults and juveniles of conchs, 
Strombus gigas.  Table 2 summarizes biomass (g) for each 
group identified in stomachs of Strombus gigas.  The 
weight of stomach contents was 1.48 - 2.95 and 0.07 g for 
adults and juveniles conchs, respectively.  Biomass of sea 
grass was the most important in the stomachs, then sand 
and fragments less than 700 µm.  Filamentous algae are 
those in smaller presence in the stomachs. In juveniles 
conchs only some mollusks, chitin fragments and calcified 
fragment > 700 µm could be weighed. 
Figure 1 shows zoobenthos founded in the stomach 
contents of queen conchs. 1, Bryozoario; 2, Ostracoda; 3, 
Protozoario euglenoide; 4, Protozoario flagelado; 5, 
Protozoa; 6, Radiolario and 7, Foraminifero. Figure 2 
illustrated plants established in stomachs contain of conchs. 
1. Cyanophyte (Gleocapsal); 2. Rodofita (Rhodomel); 
3.Cianofita (Chrococcal); 4. Pheophyte (Dictyota); 5. 
Filamentous Cianophyte; 6. Chlorophyle (Cladophora); 7. 
Pheophyte (Sphacelaria) and 8. Rodophyte (sp2). 
 
 
Table 1. Components identified in the stomach contents of 
queen conch,  Strombus gigas 
Phyllum Categoría Strombus gigas 
    adulto juvenil 
Cianophyta Chrococcal     X 
  Gleocapsal     X 
  
Cianofita filamentosa sin 
heterocistos   X   
Chlorophyta Filamentos cenociticos   X   
Phaeophyta Dyctiota sp.   X   
  Padina sp.   X   
Rhodophyta Champia sp.   X   
  Laurencia sp. X     
  Rhodomelaceae     X 
  Roja sp. 1     X 
  Roja sp. 2 X     
Antophyta Pasto marino X   X 
Protozoa Protozoarios     X 
  Foraminiferos X X X 
  Radiolario     X 
Mollusca Gasterópodo X X X 
  Bivalvo X X X 
Artropoda Copépodo     X 
  Anfípodo X     
Bryozoa Briozoario X X   
Otros Arena X X X 
  Fragmentos calcificados X X X 
  No identificados X X X 
Table 2.  Weight (g) of the recognized groups found in the 
stomach contents of queen conch, Strombus gigas 
Categoria Strombus gigas 
  adulto juvenil 
  1 2 1 
Algas filamentosas   0.15   
Algas parenquimatosas 0.05 <0.01   
Pasto 0.82     
Moluscos   0.01 0.01 
Crustaceos <0.01     
Briozoarios   0.01   
Fragmentos quitinosos     0.04 
Arena y fragmentos menores a 
700 µm 
0.49 1.85   
Fragmentos calcificados mayores 
a 700 µm 
0.11 0.45 0.02 
Material no identificado   0.48   
 Page 516   61st Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute  
 
Figure 1.  Animals in stomach contents of conchs. 1. Bryozoario, 2. Ostracoda, 3. Protozoario euglenoide, 4. 
Protozoario flagelado, 5. Protozoa, 6. Radiolario and  7. Foraminifero 
6 5 4 
3 2 1 
7 8 
Figure 2.  Plants in stomach contentsof conchs. 1. Cianofita tipo Gleocapsal, 2. Rodofita – Rhodomel 
3.Cianofita (Chrococcal), 4. Feofita ( Dictyota), 5.Cianofita filamentosa, 6. Clorofila (Cladophora), 7. 
Feofita (Sphacelaria) and 8. Rodofita (sp2) 
 Serviere-Zaragosa, E. et al.    GCFI:61   (2009)        Page 517 
 
 
DISCUSSION 
The total number of items reported in this work was 
22.  Older and larger conch can be less selective of their 
habitat and they are thus found over a wider range.  From 
this preliminary study about natural feed of queen conch in 
juveniles and adults stages it was possible to observe a 
qualitative difference in stomach contents.  Analysis of the 
species founded in the stomachs of juvenile and adults 
conchs indicated that the most diverse Phylum was 
Rhodophyta, and the second largest groups were Cyano-
phyte and Protozoa.  Sea grasses had an important biomass 
in one of the adults; they are usually dominated by 
Thalassia testudinum and Syringodium filiforme.  Although 
sea grasses such as T. testudinum are frequently raked, it is 
only a complement to grazing various forms of macroalgae 
and detritus. Elseviere, Mazariegos and Aldana Aranda 
(Unpublished data) studied the natural feed of Strombus 
pugilis from the Yucatan Peninsula reporting a total 
number of 26 items in stomach contents, of which 22 were 
present in conch adults and 10 in juveniles.  The largest 
groups were unicellular Cyanophytes and filamentous 
Cyanophyte and diatom algae.  The second largest group 
was protozoa euglenoidea and flagellate, foraminiferos and 
radiolarios.  Most of the animals found in the stomachs 
were epibionts of algae and sea grass, such as bryozoans, 
small mollusks, and crustaceans.  Little (1965) reported 
that some of the most common macro algae ingested by 
conchs are Cladophora sp., Hypnea cervicornis, and 
Polysiphonia sp.  However, the dominant plants of a 
particular habitat tend to be the principle foods.  The diet of 
conchs also changes with feed patterns, seasonal migra-
tions offshore and nearshore.  These results could permit to 
adjust better the feed formulation and the frequency of 
feeding to the real need of organism according to their age 
and size.  These data to help to adjust better the feed 
formulation and the frequency of feeding to the real need 
of organism according to their age and size. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
Grants Conacyt-SEP 2005CONACYT Variación espacio-temporal 
del patrón reproductivo del caracol rosa S. gigas en diferentes habitats y 
su modelo biofísico de conectividad para el Caribe.  
 
LITERATURE CITED 
Moreno de la Torre, R. and D. Aldana Aranda.  2007.  Crecimiento y 
eficiencia alimenticia del caracol rosado Strombus gigas (Linnaeus, 
1758) juvenil, alimentado con nueve alimentos balanceados 
conteniendo diferentes niveles de proteína y energía. Proceedings of 
Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute 58:463-468. 
Brusca, R.C. and G.J. Brusca. 1999. Invertebrates. Sinauer. E.U.A.  
Davis, M. 2000. Queen conch (Strombus gigas) Culture Techniques for 
Research, Stock Enhancement and Growout Markets. Pages 127-159 
in: M. Fingerman and R. Nagabhushanam (Eds.) Recent Advances in 
Marine Biotechnology, Volume 4: Aquaculture, Part A Seaweeds 
and Invertebrates. Science Publishers, Inc. New York, New York 
USA. 
 
 
 
Graham, L.E. and L.W. Wilcox.  2000.  Algae. Prentice Hall, E.U.A. 640 
pp. 
Jahn, T.L., E.C. Bovee, and F.F. Jahn.  1979.  How to Know the Protozoa. 
WMC Brown, Dubuque, Iowa USA. . 279 pp. 
Joly, A.B.  1967.  Géneros de algas marinhas da costa Atlantica Latino-
americana. Universidad De Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brasil. 421 pp. 
Wynne, M.J.  1986.  A checklist of benthic marine algae of the tropical 
and subtropical western Atlantic. Canadian Journal of Botany 64
(10):2239-2281. 
 
 
 


Preliminary observation of natural feed of Queen Conch Strombus gigas

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Preliminary observation of natural feed of Queen Conch Strombus gigas

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