Rearing of barnacle Balanus reticulatus Utinomi larvae using the diatom Chaetoceros wighami as food

A commonly available tropical diatom Chaetoceros wighami was tested as food for rearing the larvae of Balanus reticulatus Utinomi, a common barnacle foulant at Kalpakkam. The results showed that, in terms of percentage survival, C. wighami was better suited as diet, when compared to other commonly used diets such as Skeletonema costatum and Isochrysis galbana. Complete larval development took five days and the size of the larvae ranged from 231 μm to 547 μm.