Techniques for Spawning Common Snook: Broodstock Handling, Oocyte Staging, and Egg Quality

Abstract

Abstract Methods were developed to improve spawning procedures for common snook Centropomus undecimalis. Individual females were isolated in net-pens to facilitate handling in taking ovarian biopsies, contain shed eggs, and minimize mortalities. A simple coverslip wet-mount method was developed for rapid and accurate evaluation of final oocyte maturation; oocyte development was divided into four easily recognized stages. These stages were correlated with histological sections. Five indicators were examined to assess spawn quality. The three best indicators were percent fertilization, percent hatch, and percent survival to first feeding. Egg and oil droplet diameters were not reliable indicators of egg quality in common snook.