ABSTRACT. – From among hatchlings, juvenile cuttlefish Sepia officinalis of 200 mg were divided into two groups fed with two different diets: natural live prey and PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acids) enriched natural live prey. After 10 days of rearing, juvenile cuttlefish previously fed on the enriched diet easily accepted natural frozen prey and their survival was better, while juvenile cuttlefish previously fed with normal prey were resistant to frozen prey and showed high mortality. After 10 days of rearing with the enriched diet, when changed to a diet of alternatively frozen prey and live prey, an adjustment period with lower growth is observed. These results show that when juvenile cuttlefish are fed on live prey enriched with PUFA, they accept frozen prey earlier in their life and their survival is enhanced.
These observations have a potential importance in the culture of juvenile cephalopods.