FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

This study was aimed to understand the reproductive behavior, larval culture under artificial environment of Blue Devil (Chrysiptera cyanea) and other relevant phenomenon. Eggs were adhesive and demersal with color white to yellow. They were ellipsoidal, and were about 1.19 ± 0.03 mm (Mean ± SD) in total length and 0.60 ± 0.01 mm in width. The yolks were about 0.61± 0.05 mm long and contained several oil droplets with diameters ranging from 0.02 to 0.18 mm. The newly hatched larvae were about 2.80 ± 0.20 mm in length. Parental care behaviors for the ovum occurred from spawning to hatching. The parental behavior was mainly carried out by males. Incubation period was approximately 102 h at the water temperature of 25 ± 1 ℃. The living feeds for Blue Devil at initial larvae stage was ciliate, rotifer and copepod. Microalgae were added to stabilize water quality and to nourish rotifers. Hatching rate of fertilized eggs varied significantly with salinity. Hatching rate was the highest (97.5%) at 32 psu, but hatching failed at salinities ranging from 0 to 5 psu. The abnormal rate was an inverse ratio to salinity. Abnormal rate of hatched larvae was the highest (12.5%) at 10 psu. The abnormal rate was 0 when hatching salinity was 32 psu.