Captive broodstock development, induced breeding and embryonic development of Bengal yellowfin bream Acanthopagrus datnia  (Hamilton, 1822)

The current study aim to develop the protocol for induced breeding of Bengal yellowfin bream Acanthopagrus datnia (Hamilton, 1822) in captivity. Adult male and female fish (weight range: 100-425 g; total length range: 90-260 mm) were implanted with luteinising hormone releasing hormone analog (LHRHa) pellet (dose: 33.33 μg pellet-1) and reared in the brackishwater (4.33-9.67 ppt) for a year. Mature female (oocyte diameter, OD: 400.52-408.78 μm) were administered with different doses of aqueous LHRHa viz. 10, 20, 30 and40 μg LHRHa kg-1 body weight. Simultaneously, oozing males were administered with half the dose of LHRHa. Male and female (sex ratio: 2:1) were placed in breeding tanks (salinity: 31±0.50 ppt) (n=3). The fish spawn after the latency period of 55.67±0.47 h. During the course of embryonic development, fertilised eggs (diameter: 859.64±17.21 μm) passes through morula, blastula, gastrula and organogenesis at 2:00, 2:15, 8:00 and 14:30 hours post spawning (hps), respectively. Larvae hatched out after an incubation period of 28±1.5 h (16.200C) and measured 1.70± 0.08 mm. Results showed that the A. datnia broodstock can be developed in brackishwater and spawn successfully with the dose of 30 μg LHRHa kg-1 body weight to females and half the dose to males at 31 ppt salinity. Keywords: Bengal yellowfin bream, Captive maturation, Embryonic development, Induced breeding