Observations on artificial fertilization of eggs and embryonic and larval development of milkfish, Chanos chanos (Forskal)

Abstract

Hydrated eggs obtained from a female milkfish, Chanos chanos, were artificially fertilized with the milt collected from a male injected with acetone-dried pituitaries of salmon. The fertilized eggs (1.1–1.25 mm in diameter) developed normally in seawater in basins and petri dishes at a salinity of 30–34‰, and successfully hatched in 25–28.5 hours at a temperature of 26.4–29.9°C. The yolk was completely absorbed in about 2.5 days and during this period many postlarvae died. A few larvae were reared up to 5 days but all died on the 6th day. Attempts were made to feed the postlarvae with freshly hatched trochophore larvae of oysters obtained from eggs artificially fertilized in the laboratory.