Experiments were carried out to assess the effects of some natural diets on growth performance of the mudspiny lobster Panulirus polyphagus and the sand lobster Thenus orientalis reared in captivity. Both species showed better response to shelled molluscs. P. polyphagus fed with the gastropod Turbo sp., and T. orientalis fed with the clam Mercia opima showed better growth performance. The average daily growth of male and female P. polyphagus fed on Turbo sp. were 0.14 mm CL (0.47 g) and 0.12 mm CL(0.33 g), respectively. T. orientalis fed on fresh clam showed the highest average daily growth rate of 0.17 mm CL and 0.42 g. Analysis of Variance showed significant difference in growth increments (in terms of Carapace Length and Weight) in lobsters reared on different diets.

Lobster, Panulirus polyphagus, Thenus orientalis, diet, growth