Seaweed aquaculture is gaining global attention as a sustainable resource for food, hydrocolloids, and other bioproducts. Red macroalgae of the genus Gracilaria are widely cultivated due to their rapid growth rates, tolerance to variable environmental conditions, and economic value in agar production. Gracilaria tikvahiae, a Florida native species, represents a promising candidate for small-scale cultivation and future aquaculture development in the region. However, baseline growth data under controlled conditions are necessary to evaluate its cultivation potential. This study examined the growth performance of Gracilaria tikvahiae in small-scale laboratory cultures. Algal fragments were maintained in 250 mL monoculture flasks containing filtered seawater under controlled light conditions for a four-week cultivation period. Initial biomass measurements were recorded, and growth was monitored over time to evaluate biomass accumulation. Specific growth rate (SGR) was calculated using changes in wet weight across the experimental period to estimate daily growth rates. Preliminary results indicate increases in biomass over the cultivation period, demonstrating that G. tikvahiae can be successfully maintained and grown under controlled laboratory conditions. Growth variability among fragments suggests that environmental factors such as nutrient availability, light intensity, and water movement may influence productivity. These findings support the potential of Gracilaria tikvahiae as a candidate species for future cultivation trials and provide foundational data for scaling production in tank-based aquaculture systems in Florida.