Semi‐Closed System Culture of the Northern Puffer, Sphoeroides Maculatus

Abstract

ABSTRACTJapanese aquaculturists have contributed greatly to the culture technology of Pacific puffer fish of the genera Fugu, which presently rank second only to the yellow tail (Seriola quinqueradiata) in total annual tons cultured in Japan. Culture of the Atlantic puffer fish of the genera Sphoeroides, however, has received little attention despite its high commercial value.Adult northern puffers (Sphoeroides maculatus) were collected from local waters in the spring and summer and maintained in both open and closed sea water systems. Eggs were stripped onto glass plates and fertilization was achieved using the wet method. One hundred percent fertilization and approximately 90% hatching were obtained when specially designed incubation chambers were used. The time from fertilization to hatching was 72 hours at 24 C and the newly hatched larvae were between 1.9 and 2.4 mm in length. Yolk sac absorption required 2–3 days at 24 C, during which time feeding was not observed. The larvae were maintained in 160–liter algal bloom systems using a Chlorella sp. and were fed marine rotifers, Brachionus plicatilis, as a first food. Newly hatched Artemia salina were provided 10 days post‐hatching. Thirty days posthatching the fish were given a prepared fish diet which they readily accepted and are presently being maintained.Cannibalism was observed to occur when the fish were approximately 20 days old and did not appear to be correlated to stocking densities or size. This behavior ceased when the fish were eating the prepared fish flesh diet.