Life cycle of Bobtail Squid, EuprymnahyllebergiNateewathana 1997, from egg incubation to spawning at laboratory condition

The life cycle of bobtail squid (Euprymnahyllebergi:Sepiolidae) was investigated by incubating its eggs and rearing the hatchlings at 28.5±0.5°C and 37-38ppt salinity conditions in the Molluscs Research Station (Bandar Lengeh). After 12±3 days incubation, hatchlings with 2.23±0.05 mm mantle length and 4±1 mg wet weight emerged out. Hatchlings were fed with artemia, mysid shrimp and postlarvae of white-leg shrimp. In 30 days, they grew to 5.94±1.18 mm and 254±16 g, in 60 days to 13.96±1.87 mm, and 2.214±0.213 g, and in 90 days they grew to 18.14±2.23 mm and 4.234±0.548 g. First mating and spawning was observed in days 109 and 110, respectively, when the squids were 20.12±2.64 mm in mantle length and 5.849±1.204 g in body weight. Each female laid 70±10 eggs and died 2-4 days after spawning, followed by males after 7-15 days. Results show that bobtail squid have short life span and can easily be produced and succeeded by the next generation under laboratory conditions.