NATURAL SPAWNING AND REARING OF
MANGROVE RED SNAPPER,
LUTJANUS ARGENTIMACULATUS, LARVAE IN CAPTIVITY
Ming-Yih Leu, I-Hui Chen, Lee-Shing
Fang-2003
The
Israeli Journal of Aquaculture – Bamidgeh, 55(1): 22-30
Abstract:
Mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus
argentimaculatus, Forsskål) spawned naturally in captivity, without the
use of hormones or other treatments, from May 21 to September 15,1999. Each
female laid an average 2,350,000 eggs. Larvae were reared in 4-ton circular
fiberglass tanks. They were first fed S-type rotifers (Brachionus
rotundiformis). Later, Artemia nauplii and cope-pods were added to the
diet. They were weaned onto an artificial diet. Metamorphosis began at 18
days when the larvae reached 10.5 mm total length and was complete by day 30
when larvae were 17.2 mm. From day 26, large larvae (over 25 mm)
cannibalized their smaller siblings. Abnormalities were observed in 4.9% of
the individuals. At 50 days, the larvae rearing trial produced juveniles of
49 mm average total length with a survival of 10.8-32.3%.
(1
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung, Taiwan
944, Republic of China, Tel.: 886-8-882-5001 ext. 8024, fax:886-8-882-5066, e-mail: myl@nmmba.gov.tw)
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