The growth characteristics of Babylonia areolata in outdoor tank culture

In this paper, the growth characteristics of Babylonia areolata in outdoor tank-culture was studied. The body height and body weight of 1 400 samples at different growth stages in one year old age were measured. The results indicated that： (1) The relationship between body height and body weight growth equations of artificial tank-culture B. areolata could be described by the power function, W=0.2349H2.89 (R2=0.9822，P0.01); (2) The body height and weight growth curve of B. areolata in one year old age was rising gradually. The velocity of growth was 0.11 mmd-1 in terms of body height, and 0.03 gd-1 in terms of body weight. The instantaneous growth rate was 0.69% in terms of body height (IGRH), and 1.96% in terms of body weight (IGRW). It showed that they grew very quickly in one year old age, and without growth turning point. At the same time, the growth of B. areolata was significantly affected by water temperature. When the water temperature decreased to 20.2℃, the velocity of growth of body height and weight were decreased to 0.09 mmd-1 and 0.01 gd-1, respectively, and the IGRH and IGRW were decreased to 0.42% and 0.64%, respectively.