Effects of different diets on body composition of the sea anemone Anemonia viridis reared under laboratory conditions

The effects of 3 different diets (i.e. fish, mussels and terrestrial oligochaete worms) were tested on Anemonia viridis specimens reared under laboratory conditions. Good survival rates and excellent growth performances were observed for all the diets, but sea anemones fed with fish (Atherina boyeri) showed a superior growth, whereas those fed with worms (Eisenia fetida) exhibited the best survival rate. ANOVA performed on body composition of the sea anemones reared with the 3 experimental diets did not reveal significant differences for moisture and ash, but only for crude protein content. Furthermore, significant differences between diets were detected for mineral elements like Ca, K, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and P, as well for several fatty acid compounds.