Ac. Emata et al., INDUCED SPAWNING AND EARLY-LIFE DESCRIPTION OF THE MANGROVE RED SNAPPER, LUTJANUS-ARGENTIMACULATUS, Aquaculture, 121(4), 1994, pp. 381-387
Wild-caught mangrove red snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, reared in
a concrete tank for 1 year, spontaneously matured in June 1992. On 19
August 1992, a sexually mature female and male (4.6 and 3.2 kg body w
eight, respectively) were administered a single intramuscular injectio
n of HCG 1500 IU.kg-1 body weight. Spawning occurred 27 h after inject
ion. Hatching occurred 16 h after spawning at 28-degrees-C and 32 ppt.
Yolk resorption was completed 72 h after hatching. Growth was slow in
the first week but rapid in the second and third weeks. Egg and larva
l development is similar to that of other lutjanids. Larval rearing re
vealed two critical periods: days 3-5 and days 18-20. Future studies m
ust be geared to avoid mass mortality of the larvae during the critica
l stages for mass seed production.