N. Chaitanawisuti, A. Kritsanapuntu-1998
ARRI Newsletter, 4(2): 9
Abstract:
Breeding and larval rearing of spotted babylon, Babylonia areolata L., was assessed under hatchery condition. B. aerolata laid individual moderately transparent, vasiform egg capsules and firmly attached them to the sand substratum by a long narrow stalk. The egg capsules average 21.4 mm in length and 9.5 mm in width. Each adult female spawned 47 capsules with 851 eggs per capsule. Average eggs were 425.7 microns in diameter. The embryonic development occurred inside the egg capsules for 7 days. On day 8, 720.4 microns long larvae hatched through the apical opening of the egg capsule into the water. Metamorphosis from free swimming planktotrophic larvae to benthic juveniles was 18 days. Newly settled juveniles were 1.5 and 1.2 mm in shell length and width, respectively. Average growth increment was 84.4 microns in shell length per day and survival was 2.4%. During the period of settlement, heavy mortality occurred because the newly settled juvenile continually crawled out of the water and died due to dessication.
(Fishery Resources Research Unit, Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Phya Thai Road, Bangkok, Thailand 10330)