Description of the wreckfish (Polyprion americanus) reproductive cycle in captivity

Within the DIVERSIFY project for the diversification of species in European aquaculture, wreckfish is a special case because of its late sexual maturation, which does not occur until 7-8 years of age (Peleteiro and Brunzón, 2014), besides existing very few data on its reproductive biology because it is a demersal species whose adult specimens tend to live at the range of 100-1000 meters of deep. This work sets out the progress made in the study of the reproductive cycle of this species in stocks established in Galicia (Spain).European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration (KBBE-2013-07 single stage, GA 603121, DIVERSIFY)

Cría en cautividad del pez de San Pedro, Zeus faber (Linnaeus, 1758)

An artificial fertilization of the Zeus faber was realised by stripping of 2 females and 4 males. Photographs were taken and the principal stages of embryonic and larval development were identified. The eggs were 1.99 ± 0.036 mm of diameter, totally spherical, with a clear and unsculptured eggshell, a narrow perivitelline space and a single oil globule of 0.41 ± 0.014 mm of diameter; incubation was realised to a temperature of 16 ± 0.5 °C and hatching took place on the 11th (176 degrees/day ± 5). The larvae measured 4,3 ± 0,21 mm of length at hatching and were maintained during 20 days to 19,5 ± 0,5 °C. They fed Artemia salina from the fourth day after to hatch (two days after the reabsorption of the yolk-sac). The larvae presented an extensive pigmentation with two typical spots in the dorsal and anal fins; the pigmentation was in increase along the development except in the caudal fin and last vertebral segments and the pelvic fins were shaped large and colourful. The biometric measures indicated an important increase in the height growth whereas the total length increased very slightly for the first days of life