WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • MARCH 2013 47 (CONTINUED ON PAGE 48) hatched Artemia cysts also blocked the digestive tract of larvae and interfered with normal digestion. Inclusion of copepod nauplii in the early larval diet significantly improves the survival and growth of marine finfish. Damselfish larvae were initially fed plankton, mainly copepods, collected from an estuary, resulting in improved survival. The small-size and naupliar stages of copepods available during the initial phase of larviculture facilitated and sustained the first exogenous feeding of the larvae. Potential for Aquaculture of Marine Ornamentals in Brackishwater Marine ornamentals are usually spawned and reared in seawater (Moyer and Nakazono 1978, Alva and Gomes 1989, Gopakumar et al. 2001, Madhu et al. 2006, Olivotto et al. 2008, Arvedlund et al. 2009, Ignatius et al. 2009, Ajith Kumar et al. 2012). Based on the results of this study, there is no difference in spawning frequency, fecundity and the time to reach metamorphosis for clownfish and damselfish reared in brackishwater or seawater. Hence, marine ornamental aquaculture in brackishwater is technically feasible. This information can be extended to residents of coastal communities in India to expand options for employment. The simple technology developed used in this study can be adopted by coastal residents to supplement incomes by producing marine ornamental fish juveniles for export. Notes 1 Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Annamalai University, Parangipettai - 608 502, Tamil Nadu, India.*ttajith87@gmail.com References Alva, V. R. and L. A. O.Gomes. 1989. Breeding marine aquarium animals: the anemone fish. Naga - The ICLARM Quarterly 12-13. Arvedlund, M.I. Bundgard and L. E. Nielson.2000. Host imprinting in anemone fishes (Pisces: Pomacentridae): does it dictate spawning site preferences? Journal of Environmental Biology of Fishes 58:203-213. Ajith Kumar, T. T. and T. Balasubramanian. 2009. Broodstock development, spawning and larval rearing of the false clown fish, Amphiprion ocellaris in captivity using estuarine water. Current Science 97(10):1483-1486. FIGURE 6. Set-up for larval rearing of clownfish and damselfish. FIGURE 7. Market-size clownfish. FIGURE 8. Market-size damselfish.
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