Induced spawning and larval rearing of spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus, at the Marine Biology Station, Puntarenas, Costa Rica

Abstract

Wild spotted rose snapper, Lutjanus guttatus (n = 400, 60–100 g), were captured and grown out in cages during one year (February 2001 to February 2002). When the mature stage was detected by cannula samples, females (n = 9) were induced to spawn with a total dose of 1600 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) per kilogram of body weight, given in two injections (56% and 44% of the total dose). Males received only one injection of 200 IU HCG kg–1 body weight, at the time of the second female injection. The sex ratio (female:male) was 1:2. Mean female body weight was 604.9 ± 98.8 g (36.4 ± 2.1 cm). Egg release occurred 9–12 hours after the second injection (latent period), at a temperature of 26.3–28.2ºC, salinity of 30–32‰, and oxygen concentration of 5.5–6.6 g L–1. The fertilization rate was 90% of buoyant eggs, with a mean egg diameter of 0.857 ± 0.044 mm. Hatching occurred 15 hours after spawning (h.a.s.) at 26.3–28.2ºC. Larvae started feeding 65 h.a.s. and the postflexion stage was observed 27 days after spawning (d.a.s.). The critical period was observed 3–5 d.a.s., as in other lutjanid species. At 26 d.a.s., the growth rate was 0.243 mm d–1 and the survival rate was 1.5%. The growth rate of the fingerlings (171 d.a.s.) was 0.2 g d–1, with a mean body weight of 33.36 ± 9.13 g. Naturally spawned larvae grew until 30 d.a.s., when massive mortality occurred.

The Scale‐up of Spotted Rose Snapper, Lutjanus guttatus, Larval Rearing at Mazatlan, Mexico

“…Survival rates of the spotted rose snapper larvae during the rearing period were improved in this study, compared to those of previous trials conducted in 600‐L cylindrical fiberglass tanks (Garcia‐Ortega et al 2005; Abdo‐de la Parra et al 2010), and the average survival rate achieved for this species in Costa Rica (Boza‐Abarca et al 2008; Herrera‐Ulloa et al 2010). High mortality occurred during two critical periods: at the start of the exogenous feeding phase, as reported for spotted rose snapper by Boza‐Abarca et al (2008) and for other snapper species (Lim et al 1985; Emata et al 1994; Duray et al 1996; Tucker 1998); and during metamorphosis, which in itself is a stressor in fish larvae (Kraul et al 1993). These two critical periods are common in other marine fish species (Tucker 1998).…”

“…This species reaches high prices and the demand significantly exceeds fishery supply. Aquaculture research on spotted rose snapper has been mostly focused on induced spawning (Valverde Chavarría and Boza Abarca 1999; Ibarra‐Castro and Duncan 2007; Boza‐Abarca et al 2008; Ibarra‐Castro and Alvarez‐Lajonchère 2009), although there has been progress in improving juvenile mass production (Alvarez‐Lajonchère et al 2010). Herrera‐Ulloa et al (2010) reported the production of 70,000 spotted rose juveniles in 1 yr (this being the first juvenile mass production of this species), considered an important breakthrough after a joint effort of several institutions for 5 yr, which allowed the establishment of a grow‐out pilot farm in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica.…”

Avances biotecnológicos sobre maricultura en Costa Rica. Una revisión de la investigación desarrollada por la Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas de la Universidad Nacional

“…Se evaluó el uso del extracto de pituitaria de carpa en la maduración y desove de hembras silvestres de pargo manchado Lutjanus guttatus (Valverde, 1999;Valverde y Boza, 1998) y el efecto de la hormona gonadotropina coriónica humana (GCH) y del extracto de pituitaria de L. guttatus en la maduración in vitro de ovocitos de esta especie (López, 2004). Las técnicas aplicadas permitieron lograr desoves naturales y desoves inducidos utilizando la hormona GCH en hembras maduras de L. guttatus (Boza-Abarca, Calvo-Vargas, Solís-Ortiz & Komen, 2008). Posteriormente, se evaluó la inducción hormonal en peces silvestres y criados en jaulas flotantes de L. guttatus utilizando una suspensión de pituitaria de carpa y GCH.…”

Effects of temperature and salinity on growth and survival of the Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru (Pisces:Lutjanidae) juvenile

“…Ibarra-Castro & Duncan (2007) detailed the commercial importance of snapper species, and other authors have explained the interest of aquaculture and fishing industries in developing snapper culture (Tucker & Jory, 1991;Leu et al, 2003;Dumas et al, 2004;Ogle & Lotz, 2006;Boza-Abarca et al, 2008;Castillo-Vargasmachuca et al, 2007;Boza-Abarca et al, 2011;CastilloVargasmachuca et al, 2012;Alvarez-Lajonchere et al, 2012). Growing this species in cage protected sites or open sea (Bergheim, 2012) and ponds on land has been considered as a future possibility.…”

“…In Latin America, snapper species have been assessed and recommended for mariculture activities because they are easy to manipulate, accept artificial feed, and are not aggressive when they are maintained in high densities (Arnold et al, 1978;Tucker & Jory 1991;Boza-Abarca et al, 2008). Ibarra-Castro & Duncan (2007) detailed the commercial importance of snapper species, and other authors have explained the interest of aquaculture and fishing industries in developing snapper culture (Tucker & Jory, 1991;Leu et al, 2003;Dumas et al, 2004;Ogle & Lotz, 2006;Boza-Abarca et al, 2008;Castillo-Vargasmachuca et al, 2007;Boza-Abarca et al, 2011;CastilloVargasmachuca et al, 2012;Alvarez-Lajonchere et al, 2012).…”