Evaluation of suitable rearing water temperature for growth of red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) ♀ Ⅹ giant grouper (E. lanceolatus) ♂

Abstract

As a part of an effort to evaluate the utility of the hybrid between two groupers with distinct habitat water temperatures in the aquaculture industry, we compared the growth of red-spotted grouper (Epinephelus akaara) ♀Ⅹgiant grouper (E. lanceolatus) ♂ (RGGG) with the maternal fish species (red-spotted grouper, RG) and searched for the optimal rearing water temperatures for rapid growth. Starting from three months after hatching, RGGG and RG juveniles mass-produced at commercial hatchery were raised in small net cages for eight weeks at four different rearing water temperatures, which were maintained constantly at 19℃, 23℃, 27℃ and 31℃. The survival rate of RGGG in the 31℃ temperature group was 100% excluding the five individuals eliminated by cannibalism. lanceolatus) ♂ (RGGG) with the maternal fish species (red-spotted grouper, RG) and searched for the optimal rearing water temperatures for rapid growth. Starting from three months after hatching, RGGG and RG juveniles mass-produced at commercial hatchery were raised in small net cages for eight weeks at four different rearing water temperatures, which were maintained constantly at 19℃, 23℃, 27℃ and 31℃. The survival rate of RGGG in the 31℃ temperature group was 100% excluding the five individuals eliminated by cannibalism.