Changes in behavior and feeding habits of hatchery-reared tiger puffer Takifugu rubripes juveniles
2015
Yamane, H. (Nagasaki University, Nagasaki (Japan). Graduate School of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences) | Yoshida, A. | Yamazaki, H. | Sakiyama, K. | Kawabata, Y. | Sakakura, Y.
The behavior and feeding habits of different sizes of hatchery-reared tiger puffer fish Takifugu rubripes were investigated. Five juveniles of each size group (3.2 +- 0.2 cm, 4.9 +- 0.2 cm, 6.2 +- 0.3 cm, 9.5 +- 0.5 cm SL) were placed in a tank containing 32 psu water (control) and a tank containing salinity-gradient (10-32 psu) water, and the vertical distribution (surface, middle, bottom) of the fish was determined after 3 h. Large juveniles (6.2 +- 0.3 cm and 9.5 +- 0.5 cm SL) swam to the surface layer of the salinity-gradient tank more frequently (27-89%) than the control tank (4-51%) during 1-3 h after transfer. The settling behavior of juveniles (5.5 +- 0.3 cm and 10.9 +- 0.7 cm SL) at 15 and 32 psu, and using static and spring water was also investigated. Settlement rate of small (5.5 +- 0.3 cm SL) juveniles was significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than large (10.9 +- 0.7 cm SL) juveniles. Spring-water and 15 psu stimulated settlement in both sizes. Feeding preference of puffer fish juveniles (5.4 +- 0.6 cm, 8.9 +- 1.0 cm SL) with or without sand as substrate was also investigated. Fish showed active feeding without sand, and 83% of the large juveniles (8.9 +- 1.0 cm in SL) fed on bivalves, while only 42% of that small juveniles (5.4 +- 0.6 cm SL) fed on bivalves. Overall results showed that hatchery-reared tiger puffer juveniles prefer low salinity (10-16 psu) environment, became benthic as the size increases, and eat benthic food item like bivalves when they are over 6 cm in SL.
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