Egg and Larval Development of Serranid Fish Marcia’s Anthias, Pseudanthias marcia (Subfamily: Anthiinae) Spawned and Reared under Captive Condition

The embryonic and larval development of volitionally spawned eggs of the serranid fish Marcia’s anthias, Pseudanthias marcia (Randall and Hoover 1993) is described and illustrated based on observations during spawning, hatching and larval rearing trials. Eggs were obtained from volitional spawning of P. marcia under captive conditions in Re-circulating Aquaculture System (RAS) in which the sea water is re - circulated at the rate of 1500 L per hour. Fertilized eggs of P. marcia were pelagic, non adhesive, transparent and measured 617.891 ± 14.9 μ (mean ± SD). Each egg had a single oil globule which measured in 125.866 ± 14.06 μ (mean ± SD).Cell division or two cell stage started forming after 14 min of collection of the fertilized eggs from the brood stock tank. Larval motility began after 14:30 h and hatching occurred after 14:50 h at 29 °C. Average total length of the newly hatched larvae was 1206.55 ± 100.02 μ and the yolk sac length was 826.00 ± 46.00 μ. On 3rd dph (days post hatch), the total length of the larvae was 1906.26 ± 32.3 μ. Pigmentations patterns were observed in freshly hatched larvae after 4 h of hatching, with the presence of eight pigmented areas on the dorsal surface of the larva and one spot on the posterior tip of the yolk sac. Notochord flexion stage was complete on 25 dph (TL- 4.85 mm). Between 32 and 34 dph larvae metamorphosed to adult shape. Adult coloration and forked caudal fin shape was observed after 50 days of post hatch and the total body length of the larvae was 42–43 mm.