P. semisulcatus post-larvae (PLs) had higher survival and better growth at high rather than low salinities between PL20 and PL60. Final survivals at high salinities (30-40 ppt) (19-23%) were significantly higher than those (3-12%) below 25 ppt (P 0.05). A rise in salinity resulted in an increase in the biomass from 0.020 g at 10 ppt to 0.317 g at 40 ppt (P < 0.05). Optimum salinity for the nursery culture of P. semisulcatus PLs appeared to be about 40 ppt at 28 °C. Hence, the results of this study demonstrate that P. semisulcatus inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea is not a good candidate for culture in waters of low salinity.

P. semisulcatus post-larvae (PLs) had higher survival and better growth at high rather than low salinities between PL20 and PL60. Final survivals at high salinities (30-40 ppt) (19-23%) were significantly higher than those (3-12%) below 25 ppt (P 0.05). A rise in salinity resulted in an increase in the biomass from 0.020 g at 10 ppt to 0.317 g at 40 ppt (P < 0.05). Optimum salinity for the nursery culture of P. semisulcatus PLs appeared to be about 40 ppt at 28 °C. Hence, the results of this study demonstrate that P. semisulcatus inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea is not a good candidate for culture in waters of low salinity.