Abstract: Morphological development and growth characteristics of four-finger threadfinEleutheronematetradactylum(Shaw) larvae and juveniles were investigated under artificial hatchery condition. It was found that the newly hatched four-finger threadfin larvae had total length of (1.957±0.055)mm, began initial feeding on 2nd day, and showed complete exhausted yolk sac on 3rd day at a salinity of 30 at 26 ℃, when the larvae were fed. The larval stage lasted for 13 days after hatching，and the juvenile stage was kept from 14th day to 36th day when the juveniles developed into young stage. Growth characteristics analysis revealed that there were significantly higher total length, pre-anal length and body height in larval stage than in the juveniles, with very significant polynomial function correlation between day-age and total length, pre-anal length and body height (P<0.01). Significant differences in individual size were observed during the larva rearing with the differences between the minimum and maximum of 2.437 times in total length, and 2.004 times in pre-anal length. Thus it is suggested that enough suitable food be fed during larvae rearing.
2014, Vol. 29 
