An intensive hatchery rearing protocol for larvae of the bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus (Jenyns)

Abstract

In this study bullseye puffer, Sphoeroides annulatus larvae were reared from hatching through to 1 or 2 months after weaning on an experimental scale in three replicate 600 L tanks and on three occasions during the spawning season (nine tanks in total). The rearing protocol used was green water (Nannochloropsis oculata and Isochrysis sp.) 100 000 cells mL−1 from 0 to 11 days after hatch (DAH), 5–10 rotifers, Brachionus rotundiformis mL−1 from 2 to 26 DAH, 0.1–1 Artemia mL−1 from 21 to 34 DAH and weaning from 29 to 34 DAH. Survival to a month after weaning was 1%, a total of 3153 juveniles were produced with an average wet weight of 0.29 ± 0.07 g and a length of 27.5 ± 0.82 mm.