FISHERIES RESEARCH INSTITUTE,MOA,TAIWAN

This study investigated the reproductive behavior and larval culture of Neoglyphidodon melas in artificial environments and the differences in various relevant factors. It was hoped that the results of the study can help to reduce the trade in wild fish in the ornamental fish market in the future. The results showed that the adhesive demersal eggs of the fish are white to yellow in color and ellipsoidal in shape, with a total length of approximately 1.58 ± 0.06 mm (mean ± SD) and a width of approximately 0.71 ± 0.02 mm. The yolks were about 1.06 ± 0.07 mm long and contained several oil droplets with diameters of 0.28 ± 0.02 mm, and the newly hatched larvae were about 2.86 ± 0.12 mm in length. Parental care behaviors for the ovum occurred from spawning to hatching, and our observations indicated that such parental behavior is mainly carried out by males. The incubation period was approximately 106 hr at a water temperature of 28 ± 1℃. The feeds used for the blue devil at initial larvae stage were ciliate, rotifer and copepod. Microalgae was added to stabilize the water quality and nourish the rotifers. The feeds should be given at the same time. Under heat stress experiments, the blue devils started die at 37.2℃, and all the fish were dead by the time the temperature reached 38.5℃. In the low temperature tolerance test, the Neoglyphidodon melas started to die at 15.1℃ and all the fish were dead at 13.2℃.