Captive Volitional Spawning and Larval Rearing of Pigfish

Abstract

Pigfish Orthopristis chrysoptera have been identified as a species with potential for commercial production; however, lack of established culture protocols remain a major obstacle. To date, there is no scientific literature that adequately examines captive spawning and culture of this species. The purpose of this study was to evaluate volitional spawning and larval culture of Pigfish. Additionally, a preliminary larval feeding regime was investigated and growth and development of Pigfish larvae were documented. A fecundity of 1,147,149 eggs per female (2,959 eggs/g body weight) was calculated based on 58 recorded volitional spawning events. Larval survival ranged from 6.5% to 100% through 25-d posthatch (DPH). Larvae were observed to initiate swim bladder inflation by 9 DPH, and 100% percent of larvae exhibited notochord flexion by 19 DPH. An effective feeding regime was established that incorporated the nauplii of the copepod Pseudodiaptomus pelagicus, the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, and Artemia. This study represents the first published report of repeated captive volitional spawning of Pigfish with successful protracted larval rearing.

Received April 30, 2012; accepted September 25, 2012

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors acknowledge Audrey Beany, Meghan Anderson, and John Marcellus for their assistance throughout this trial.