The collected eggs were held in a solution of 1 percent formalin for one hour, then transferred into the culture tanks. in the Journal of the World Aquaculture Society in 2000. Filtered water was then pumped back into the culture tanks or discharged during water exchanges.Įggs were collected from first-generation laboratory-reared broodstock maintained using protocols similar to those described by Turano et al. Effluent water from each tank ran through a common drain line and 100-μ and 5-μ felt filter bags, followed by a biological filter.
Water level was controlled by an internal stand pipe surrounded by an external pipe screened with 48- or 250-μ mesh netting.
The larval-rearing trials were conducted in a series of 1,000-liter tanks, each containing a center drain, two air stones, and water source. Culture system and eggs Since yellowtails reproduce easily under controlled conditions, they are a good species for snapper aquaculture. Dry feed is also added on day 7 and continue throughout production. Newly hatched artemia nauplii are added days 14 to 16, followed by 2-day-old enriched artemia nauplii for the remainder of the production period. Enriched rotifers are added twice daily from days 7 to 18 such that 5 to 10 rotifers per milliliter are maintained in the culture water. Starting at day 7, the system is converted back to clear water management, with the culture water recirculated in the evenings through biological and particulate filters. For days 2 to 7, the algae is maintained in quantities sufficient to produce a light green tint to the culture water (approximately 1 x 10 5 – 2 x 10 5 cells per millileter) and provide sufficient nutrients for growth and reproduction of the rotifers. Two days after hatching, green water techniques are initiated with the addition of Nannochloropsis oculata algae and Brachionus plicatilis rotifers to the culture water. Larvae culture is best initiated with the introduction of fertilized eggs into presterilized clear water. The basic protocols the authors of this article found to work best include a mixture of clear and green water culture techniques. The maturation and larval rearing of yellowtail snappers have been reported by several authors. Results have been unpredictable, presumably due to nutritional inadequacies and/or variability of the larval diets. Initial protocols for larval rearing have resulted in overall survival of about 3 percent from egg to advanced juvenile. This makes yellowtails a good aquaculture candidate and excellent model species for the development of larvae culture techniques for snappers.Īs with other snappers, yellowtails produce very small larvae that are a challenge to rear. Unlike other snapper species, the fish easily reproduce under controlled conditions and will spawn “naturally” on a year-round basis.
The yellowtail snapper ( Ocyurus chry surus) is one of several snapper species that are abundant in the Bahamas, off south Florida, USA, and in the Caribbean. Species requires a high-quality live prey of proper nutritional value Yellowtail snapper larvae.