Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile three-spot gourami <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichogaster trichopterus</Emphasis>

Morphological development, including the body proportions, fins, pigmentation and labyrinth organ, in laboratory-hatched larval and juvenile three-spot gourami Trichogaster trichopterus was described. In addition, some wild larval and juvenile specimens were observed for comparison. Body lengths of larvae and juveniles were 2.5 ± 0.1 mm just after hatching (day 0) and 9.2 ± 1.4 mm on day 22, reaching 20.4 ± 5.0 mm on day 40. Aggregate fin ray numbers attained their full complements in juveniles >11.9 mm BL. Preflexion larvae started feeding on day 3 following upper and lower jaw formation, the yolk being completely absorbed by day 11. Subsequently, oblong conical teeth appeared in postflexion larvae >6.4 mm BL (day 13). Melanophores on the body increased with growth, and a large spot started forming at the caudal margin of the body in flexion postlarvae >6.7 mm BL, followed by a second large spot positioned posteriorly on the midline in postflexion larvae >8.6 mm BL. The labyrinth organ differentiated in postflexion larvae >7.9 mm BL (day 19). For eye diameter and the first soft fin ray of pelvic fin length, the proportions in laboratory-reared specimens were smaller than those in wild specimens in 18.5–24.5 mm BL. The pigmentation pattern of laboratory-reared fish did not distinctively differ from that in the wild ones. Comparisons with larval and juvenile morphology of a congener T. pectoralis revealed several distinct differences, particularly in the numbers of myomeres, pigmentations and the proportional length of the first soft fin ray of the pelvic fin.     

Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

The morphological development, including the fins, body proportions and pigmentation, of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile Pangasianodon hypophthalmus was described and their behavioral features were observed under rearing conditions. Body lengths (BL) of larvae and juveniles were 3.0 ± 0.2 (mean ± SD) mm just after hatching, and 12.9 ± 1.1 mm on day 13, reaching 23.4 ± 1.8 mm on day 25 after hatching. Aggregate fin ray numbers (for caudal fin, principal soft ray number) attained their full complements in specimens larger than 12.8 mm BL. Notochord flexion began in yolksac larvae on day 0 (10.5 h after hatching), with teeth buds and barbels appearing with jaw formation in yolksac flexion larvae on day 1. Melanophores on the body increased with growth, with a broad vertical band forming on the lateral line and an oblique band extending from above the pectoral fin base towards the forepart of the anal fin during the postflexion larval and juvenile stages. Body proportions became relatively constant in juveniles, except for maxillary barbel length (MBL), which continued to decrease. Yolksac flexion larvae started feeding on day 2 with the onset of intense cannibalism. Yolks were completely absorbed by day 3, and cannibalism ended by day 6. Subsequently, fish displayed a schooling behavior with growth, preferring relatively dark areas during the juvenile stage.     

Growth and morphological development of laboratory-reared larval and juvenile bighead catfish Clarias macrocephalus (Siluriformes: Clariidae)

Morphological development in laboratory-reared larval and juvenile bighead catfish Clarias macrocephalus is described. Body length (BL) of larvae and juveniles was 3.4 ± 0.3 (mean ± SD) mm just after hatching, reaching 11.3 ± 1.0 mm by day 16, and 24.2 ± 2.8 mm by day 40. Overall aggregate fin ray numbers (except for caudal fin procurrent rays) attained full complements by 15.2 mm BL. Gill buds appeared on day 0, those of barbels (four pairs) and primordial nostrils on day 1, and pectoral fins on day 3. All larvae began feeding by day 3. Conical teeth were observed on day 7. Notochord flexion began on day 2, the yolk being completely absorbed during days 7–9. Melanophores were scarce at hatching, increasing with growth to cover almost the entire body except the ventral surface of the abdominal cavity. Proportions of head length, pre-anal length, body depth, eye diameter, and maxillary barbel length became relatively constant after yolk absorption, those of snout length and upper jaw length increasing until ca. 12–13 mm BL and decreasing thereafter. Suprabranchial organ started developing in postflexion larval stage larger than ca. 11.0 mm BL (day 16), and air-breathing was suggested to be functional at that time.     

Descriptive morphology of early developmental stages of laboratory-reared black sharkminnow Labeo chrysophekadion (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Ichthyological Research - In this study, we describe the morphological development of laboratory-reared black sharkminnow Labeo chrysophekadion larvae and juveniles. The body lengths (BL) were...     

Developmental morphology and growth in early stages of laboratory-reared Cirrhinus molitorella and C. microlepis (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Ichthyological Research - The morphological developments in laboratory-reared larval and juvenile Cirrhinus molitorella and larval C. microlepis were described, and ontogenies (including yolk sizes...