Development of a nutritional protocol for laboratory rearing of Pomacea figulina (Spix in Wagner, 1827)

Background Pomacea figulina is a neotropical freshwater gastropod that has emerged as a promising native biomonitor due to its ecological characteristics and sensitivity to environmental contaminants. However, the lack of standardized laboratory rearing protocols limits its use in ecotoxicological bioassays and environmental monitoring. This study aimed to establish a controlled laboratory culture protocol for P. figulina , with emphasis on survival and growth performance, to support its future application in ecotoxicological research. Results Egg masses were collected in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil, and incubated under controlled conditions for 20 days. After hatching, 120 individuals were randomly distributed among 40 aquariums and maintained for 10 weeks at constant temperature and aeration. Four dietary treatments were tested: (1) commercial fish food, (2) fresh kale, (3) a mixture of fish food and kale, and (4) a laboratory-produced diet composed of fish food, eggshells, agar, and water. Individuals fed the mixed diet (TR3) and the fish food-only diet (TR1) exhibited the greatest growth performance in both body mass and shell length, being statistically indistinguishable from each other. The laboratory-produced diet (TR4) resulted in intermediate growth performance, which differed significantly from both TR1 and TR3, but stood out by showing the highest survival rate (lowest mortality) among all treatments. Conversely, the kale-only diet (TR2) showed the lowest growth performance and the highest mortality rate. Overall, diet was identified as a key factor influencing growth and survival, with growth primarily associated with protein-rich diets combined with plant sources, and survival closely linked to dietary mineral composition, although water quality and characteristics of the egg clutches may also have contributed to the observed variation among treatments. Conclusions Nutritional composition plays a decisive role in the success of laboratory rearing of P. figulina . While protein-rich diets optimize growth, the use of a calcium-supplemented laboratory diet provides a reliable foundation for maximizing survival under controlled conditions. These findings reinforce the suitability of P. figulina as a model organism for ecotoxicological bioassays and environmental biomonitoring, contributing to the development of standardized methodologies for Neotropical freshwater mollusks.