Infestation of rhizocepalan barnacle in the Blue swimmer crab

The parasitic rhizocephalan barnacle, Sacculina spp. were observed in the live Blue swimmer crab, Portunus pelagicus while collecting broodstock for crab seed production. Rhizocephalans have been reported from different aquatic habitat like the deep ocean to pelagic, intertidal, brackish water habitat and a few species occur in freshwater also

Larviculture and seed production of the silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede, 1801) for the first time in India

Larviculture and seed production protocols for the silver pompano Trachinotus blochii, which is one of the promising finfish species for brackishwater and marine aquaculture was developed based on six trials for the first time in India. The newly hatched larvae were stocked at a density of 20 larvae l-1 in 2 t FRP tanks with 1.5 t of seawater. Green water technique was employed during larviculture upto the weaning period. Enriched S-type rotifers were fed at a density of 10-12 nos. ml-1 until 3 day post hatch (dph) and the enriched L-type rotifers were given at a density of 6-8 nos. ml-1 from 7 dph and thereafter with enriched Artemia at a density of 3-5 nos. ml-1. Weaning started from 15 dph and by 20-25 dph metamorphosis was completed. The survival on completion of metamorphosis ranged from 10-15% and the specific growth rate in terms of length (mm) was 8% per day. The larval morphology and growth pattern are also described

Successful mass production of Three spot damselfish through captive breeding

The captive breeding technology for twenty three marine ornamental species have been developed by ICAR-CMFRI, which includes Clownfishes, Damsels, Fire fish, Dotty back, Anthias etc. The breeding and larval rearing of clownfishes is comparatively easy while the same for damselfishes is difficult because of the difference in live feed requirements

Broodstock development through regulation of photoperiod and controlled breeding of silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii (Lacepede, 1801) in India

The silver pompano, Trachinotus blochii is recognised as a promising species for mariculture. In India, broodstock development, controlled breeding and seed production of silver pompano was achieved for the first time at Mandapam Regional Centre of Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute. Sub-adult fishes collected from the wild were grown in circular sea cages of 6 m diameter and 3.5 m depth. Twelve fishes were selected from a sea cage and acclimatized to laboratory conditions. Among these, four fishes (1 female and 3 males) were pre-conditioned to sexual maturity in a 10 t FRP tank with photoperiod control facility (2000 lux; 14 L: 10 D). In about 2 months, the gonads reached right stage for spawning. The brooders were administered human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) intramuscularly, at a dosage of 350 IU kg body weight-1. A total of 5 experiments were conducted and successful spawnings were obtained resulting in the production of fertilized eggs. The time taken for spawning ranged from 30-36 h. The total number of eggs spawned ranged from 0.08 to 0.184 million. The fertilization percentage varied from 75 to 95. Freshly spawned eggs measured above 900 μ. The success obtained in all the consecutive five experiments indicated that predictable spawnings of pompano could be achieved by employing the techniques developed

Designer clown fishes: Unraveling the ambiguities

The global marine ornamental fish trade is dominated by wild collected fishes, and the contribution from hatchery production is less than 10% of the total. Hatchery production is considered to be the only long-term sustainable option to reduce the fishing pressure on the wild population and also to safeguard the delicate coral reef ecosystem, which houses most of the marine ornamental species. Among the hatchery-produced fishes that are being traded, clown fishes form a dominant group, and a recent addition to this list is the designer clown fishes, which are costlier than other clown fishes due to their rare and attractive color patterns. However, ambiguities about designer clown fish such as its production (wild caught, captive bred, or genetically modified) and taxonomic identity still exist among the general public and hobbyists, as scientific reports on these aspects have not yet been published, even though few aquaculture companies display the photos of designer clown fishes in their websites. The common names for designer clown fishes (such as Platinum, Picasso, and snowflake) have been given by the aquaculture companies/traders solely based on the color patterns or designs on the fish body. The paper describes in detail the production of designer clown fish through captive breeding, followed by elucidating the taxonomic identity of two easily distinguishable designer clown fishes, viz., Picasso and Platinum. Both classical taxonomic tools and molecular methods were employed to elucidate the taxonomic identity. The morpho-merisitic characteristics of Picasso and Platinum were similar to those of Amphiprion percula. The partial cytochrome c-oxidase subunit I (COI) sequences of Picasso and Platinum clown fishes were submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) GenBank with accession numbers MT947238 and MT947239, respectively, which had maximum similarity to sequences of A. percula already deposited in the NCBI GenBank. The designer clown fishes exhibited protandrous hermaphroditism with monogamous mating behavior. Their egg incubation period ranged from 7 to 8 days, and the larval rearing was carried out with live feeds such as rotifers and Artemia under the greenwater technique using microalgae, Nannochloropsis oculata. This paper can thus unravel the ambiguities related to the production of designer clown fishes as well as their taxonomy

Morphological observations on the endemic Velvet leatherjacket, <em>Lalmohania velutina</em> Hutchins, 1994 (Family: Monacanthidae) and updated distributional records after three decades from its discovery in Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu Coast, India

409-414The present study pertains to the occurrence of the fish commonly known as the velvet leatherjacket, Lalmohania velutina with extended distributional records that update its original scientific description. This paper delineates the morphological, genital and skeletal observations recorded of L. velutina based on 12 specimens collected from multiple fishing sites, from shore seine fishing operations practiced along the south-east coast of India. Group-wise (distribution, sex and type specimens) statistical analysis revealed that the specimens collected from the Palk Bay region are larger than the Gulf of Mannar specimens.  Morphological, gonadal and skeletal examination of the collected specimens attest to these features proved its idiosyncrasy

Not Available

Not AvailableThe study analyzed the live colour pattern present on the carapace of Portunus pelagicus. Our results indicated that the occurrence of three major colour morphs in the population of P. pelagicus with an intraspecific variation among the female population in Mandapam (Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar) region. The crab population was dominated by carapace colour morph Type 2 (51.27%) in Palk Bay and Type 3 (54.80%) in Gulf of Mannar. There was no evidence of a colour morph difference between ages in observed specimens. The colour morphotypes showed significant difference in the analysed population, among and between the sexes.Not Availabl

Not Available

Not AvailableThe study analyzed the live colour pattern present on the carapace of Portunus pelagicus. Our results indicated that the occurrence of three major colour morphs in the population of P. pelagicus with an intraspecific variation among the female population in Mandapam (Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar) region. The crab population was dominated by carapace colour morph Type 2 (51.27%) in Palk Bay and Type 3 (54.80%) in Gulf of Mannar. There was no evidence of a colour morph difference between ages in observed specimens. The colour morphotypes showed significant difference in the analysed population, among and between the sexes.Not Availabl

Carapace colour morphs of the blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus population in Mandapam (Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar) region

The study analyzed the live colour pattern present on the carapace of Portunus pelagicus. Our results indicated that the occurrence of three major colour morphs in the population of P. pelagicus with an intraspecific variation among the female population in Mandapam (Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar) region. The crab population was dominated by carapace colour morph Type 2 (51.27%) in Palk Bay and Type 3 (54.80%) in Gulf of Mannar. There was no evidence of a colour morph difference between ages in observed specimens. The colour morphotypes showed significant difference in the analysed population, among and between the sexes