Incubation of embryos and larvae of marine fish using microtiter plates

Abstract

Egg quality can be defined using various parameters, but in the aquaculture industry it is defined as the potential of an egg to hatch into a viable larva (Kjørsvik et al., 1990; Brooks et al., 1997). The decision to stock a batch of eggs for production is firstly based on the fertilization % of the particular spawn, and then on the hatching % and survival to first feeding, i.e. when the mouth has opened (Bromage, 1995). When carrying out reproduction experiments, the ultimate success of the broodstock management or hormone treatment is determined by the production of good quality eggs. Evaluation of the fertilization % of different batches of eggs is easy, can be carried out within a few hours from spawning and does not require special facilities to keep the eggs. Evaluation of hatching % and survival to first feeding, however, requires maintaining the eggs for at least 5 d in the case of marine species such as the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) (Zohar et al., 1995) and the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) (Carrillo et al., 1995). Maintaining a large number of egg batches produced from multi-factorial experiments in commercial-type incubators is unfeasible, due to space and cost constraints.