Larval Rearing of the Black Sea Turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (Linnaeus, 1758), under Laboratory Conditions

Authors: TEMEL ŞAHİN

Abstract: To establish a seed production technique for Black Sea turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, eggs and larvae were observed under artificial rearing conditions. Larvae were obtained artificially from eggs of tank-held broodstock. The egg fertilization was 27.6% and the fertilized eggs were 1.213±0.063 mm in diameter, were spherical pelagic and had one oil globule. From an initial length of 3.12±0.14 mm on day 0, the larvae grown to 167.28±15.32 mm in the normal group and to 159.98±12.25 mm in the abnormal group on day 246. The feeding regime consisted of Nannochloropsis oculata, Brachionus plicatilis, Artemia, and granule feed. The survival rates were 5.2% on day 60, and 4.59% on day 246. High mortality of larvae occurred within 15 days of hatching, during the transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding and from rotifer to Artemia-feeding. The present study demonstrated that adult Black Sea turbot can be obtained from the wild, and from broodstock management and artificial spawning in captivity, and larval rearing can be achieved successfully.

Keywords: Black Sea turbot, Scophthalmus maximus, Survival Rate, Larval Rearing, Mortality

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