REPRODUCTIVE-BEHAVIOR, EGGS AND LARVAE OF A CAESIONINE FISH, CAESIO-CAERULAUREA, OBSERVED IN AN AQUARIUM

The reproductive behavior and early life history of Caesio caerulaurea are described from aquarium observations. Spawning occurred mainly be tween a pair plus sneakers from June 11 to July 16, 1994. Six easily d istinguishable behavior phases were recognized in the spawning sequenc e: 1) Nuzzling; 2) Several males joining in courtship; 3) Spiraling to wards the surface; 4) Pair spawning; 5) Sperm release by sneakers; and 6) Post spawning. Fertilized eggs were spherical, transparent, buoyan t and unpigmented. They averaged 0.82 mm in diameter and contained a s ingle oil globule averaging 0.17 mm in diameter. Hatching began about 23 hours after fertilization at 24.0+/-0.5 degrees C. Immediately afte r hatching, larvae were 2.02-2.46 mm in total length and had a large, round, ellipsoidal yolk. A single oil globule with about 10 melanophor es protruded extensively from the anterior end of the yolk. In 36 and 48-hour old larvae, one or two dendritic melanophores were observed ju st posterior to the auditory vesicle. Larval development of C. caerula urea during the first 48 hours after hatching is described.