Changes in the length and weight of milkfish, Chanos chanos, larvae preserved in formalin

Abstract

Shore-caught milkfish fry (late postlarvae) and artificially-bred, laboratory-reared larvae (0-to 20-day old) were preserved in 5% and 10% freshwater-and/or seawater-formalin solutions after measuring their initial weights and/or lengths. The changes in length and weight were observed at regular intervals. Shrinkage in freshwater-formalin (FWF) was less than in seawater-formalin (SWF). The difference in 5% and 10% concentrations of the same solution was not significant. Wild fry showed a final shrinkage of 5.13% of the initial length in 5% SWF and 5.0 7% in 10% SWF. Shrinkage in laboratory-reared larvae varied from 5.09-8.35% according to the age and/or developmental stage, for the same preservation period of 14 days. In estimating the natural length of milkfish larvae preserved in 5-10% SWF, a 5% shrinkage must be considered. The specimens must be kept in the preservative for at least a week before measurement since it takes at least a week for shrinkage to stabilize. Nothing definite could be said, as yet, for the weight changes in milkfish larvae.