Culture of grunion Leuresthes tenuis (Ayres) larvae to metamorphosis, in the laboratory

Abstract

A total of 800 larvae of the grunion Leuresthes tenuis, obtained by means of fertilization and artificial incubation, were cultured under laboratory conditions. The method used to incubate the eggs is described. The larvae were cultured to metamorphosis, 40 days after hatching, in rectangular tanks with 20 litres of seawater and stocking density of 10 larvae.l^–1. The larvae were fed with recently hatched Artemia nauplii, at a concentration of 500 naupliil^–1 the first 20 days and 1,000 nauplii.l^–1 the next 20 days. The nanoflagellate Tetraselmis suecica was added to the culture medium. Growth, survival and condition factor (body height/standard length) were recorded throughout the culture period. Forty days after hatching, the average standard length of the larvae was 15.1 mm, larval growth was linear and represented by the equation L = 7.40 + 0.19 t (n = 14, r² = 0.99, p < 0.0001). Final average survival was 76.6%. The larvae of the grunion L. tenuis are easy to culture in the laboratory and require relatively less food than larvae with similar characteristics. Therefore, they are a good alternative for experimental cultures.