Spawning by Captive Serranid Fishes: A Review

Abstract

AbstractThe current available information on spawning by serranid fishes in captivity is reviewed. Much work has been done on members of the family Serranidae because of their value as food or ornamental fish. At least 31 species have been induced to ovulate with hormones, and at least 23 species have spawned voluntarily (without chemical treatment) in captivity. Typically, a serranid female with fully‐yolked oocytes will ovulate within 24–72h (usually 36–50h) after the first of 1–3 injections of 500–1,000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin/kg body weight. Similar results have been obtained for several species given 1–3 injections of 10–50μg luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analog/kg body weight. Voluntary spawning has occurred mostly with well‐fed uncrowded fish during the natural spawning season under conditions of ambient temperature and partial or total natural light. The necessary temperature range for spawning varies among species, and daylength seems to be a less important stimulus than temperature for serranids.