Faculty of Bioresources, Mie University, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
Feeding activity and daily feed intake of three male Japanese spiny lobsters Panulirus japonicus, 74-81mm in carapace length, were continuously monitored from February 1998 to December 1998. Lobsters were fed on mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis during a period of 284 days. The activities of the lobsters fluctuated markedly throughout the present study, reflected their molting cycles as well as changes in water temperature . Molting occurred in summer and autumn. Lobsters showed low feed intake for about one month prior to molting, did not feed for 5-17 days just before molting, and resumed feeding 2-26 days after ecdysis. The feed intake of the lobsters increased rapidly in summer following ecdysis. When water temperature was lower than 11.8°C, lobsters did not ingest prey. Feed intake increased as water temperature increased, and decreased when water temperature reached 28°C or higher.