Growth and energy budgets of green and red type sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) under different light colors

Under white, red, yellow, green and blue light the growth performances and energy budgets of the red type and the green type sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus were studied in order to understand their adaptability to different light spectra. The results showed that the growth rates of both types of A. japonicus were influenced significantly by light spectra. The growth rate of the red type in yellow light treatment was significantly greater than those in other light color treatments; however, for the green type similar growth rates were detected in yellow, white and blue light treatments. Resulting from wasting less energy in feces under yellow light deposited more energy to growth, however, for the green type in yellow light more energy to growth was gained by spending less energy in respiration and ammonia excretion as well. The minimum growth rates for both types of sea cucumbers occurred in green light treatment. The difference in food conversion efficiencies between the red type and the green type resulted in the difference in growth rates between both types of sea cucumbers in green light treatment.