Pearl spot (Etroplus suratensis)

This slide is about a pearl spot fish which includes about its habit, habitat ,morphology, food and feeding, breeding behaviour, hatching, larval rearing, embryonic development, nutritive values, farming practices, seed production and pond preparation...

1. PEARL SPOT ( ETROPLUS SURATENSIS) HARINI V 2 ND MSC ZOOLOGY QUEEN MARY’S COLLEGE .

2. CLASSIFICATION KINGDOM ANIMALIA PHYLUM CHORDATA CLASS ACTINOPTERYGII ORDER PERCIFORMES FAMILY CICHLIDAE GENUS ETROPLUS SPECIES SURATENSIS COMMON NAME green chromide,pearlspot TAMIL NAME KARIMEEN

3. CONTENT

4. HABIT ,HABITAT,DISTRIBUTION ETROPLUS SURATENSIS - EURYHALINE SPECIES. ATTENTIVE PARENTAL CARE It is distributed in the coastal regions of peninsular India and Srilanka . India- Kerala and Tamilnadu . Composite cultivation –various carp like catla . LOCAL NAME- Karimeen in kerala and green chromide /pearl spot are common name.

5. MORPHOLOGY Elliptical body with spots . COLOUR- green and black Dark black stripes are found from head to tail. A single dorsal fin is present with 18-19 spines, the spinous spot is much longer than the soft spot. Anal fin – 12-13 spines. Caudal fin is slightly emarginated. 20cm in length and maximum length is twice

6. Eight dark vertical bands, the first over the posterior of the head and last over the base of the caudal fin. Most of the scales above lateral line have a pearly white spot, while there are some irregular spots in abdomen. Dorsal, caudal , ventral and anal fins are dark lead in colour and the pectoral fins are yellowish with a jet black base.

7. FOOD AND FEEDING

8. Food composition Filamentous algae which formed the primary food of E.suratensis , were represented by SPIROGYRA & OSCILLATORIA . Diatoms- PLEUROSIGMA,NITZACHIA, NAVICULA DETRITUS & DIGESTED materials were present as a major food constituent throughout the year.

9. YOUNG ONES FOOD – zooplanktons like advanced fry on aquatic insect larvae, filamentous algae and other vegetable matter. ADULT Filamentous algae, aquatic macro vegetation and planktonic organisms. Worms, shrimps and insect larvae also form part of its food. Adult pearl spot can be fed with pelleted fish feed.

10. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

11. BREEDING BEHAVIOUR

12. BREEDING BEHAVIOUR AND SPAWNING BREEDING –pairing , nest making & parental care. Schools- 15-20 members. INDICATION OF PREMATING PAIR FORMATION- MALE- Conspicious intensification & darkening of colour pattern . FEMALE- Black spots & blotches appears on the ventral side between pelvic & anal fin ,during spawning period.

13. Breeding pair starts swimming along the side of the pond in search of a suitable substratum for nesting. Substratum – stationary objects such as coconut leaves, coconut husk, stones, pvc hose pipes, bricks, coconut roots or any such hard solids as substrate. Excitation of the female by hitting on the vent & nibbling on the abdomen and the pair swims around the chosen substratum. During ovulation – female lay eggs by pressing closely on to the nest surface, one by one in a single layer, supported by their ventral fin. Female fish then glue their eggs by pressing closely on to the nest surface , one by one in a single layer, supported by their ventral fin. Male fish following the close behind and rapid movements dashes over the freshly laid eggs ,releases a spray of milt & fertilize them instantly. Duration of sperm motility 3-4 min.

14. Female repeat the process of egg extrusion on to the nest surface. Whole process of spawning- 45-60 min. Eggs are ovoid. Whole egg mass appears as patches.

15. Pit nurseries- attached eggs collected from the experimental pond.

16. EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT Eggs of E. suratensis , is elliptical in shape, with an average length of 2.2mm and width of 1mm. Eggs of etroplus are pale yellow in color and after fertilization the color changes slowly and they become brownish just prior to hatching

17. HATCHING Hatches out, generally in 70-74 hrs Hatchlings or wrigglers are picked up by the brooding female in its mouth and are transferred to the breeding pits on the shallow pond bottom. PIT GUARDING- fanning of pits with their fins and render oxygenation of the hatchings that are sheltered in the pits. A few wrigglers are picked up by the parents, rolled out in the mouth and returned and sometimes, the entire brood of wrigglers is shifted from pit to pit helps to cleanse the sticky larvae by removing the adhering particulate matter.

18. As the yolk is fully utilized, within a week , the wrigglers develop their locomotor abilities and become free swimming and the larvae gradually move out of the pits,in schools and swim freely in to the open waters.

19. LARVAL REARING Early larval stage lasts for 7 days during when the larvae develop into free swimming individuals. During late larval stage the tail remains long and the caudal fin is continuous The larvae assume adult form within a month after hatching and measure about 18 mm.

20. Use and trade Popular foodfish High market value in kerala and recently declared as “ state fish” by the state government. Introduction to various other man-made habitats like tanks, ponds and dam reservoirs for culture and export.

21. This is good demand in other states like AP, TN, ORISSA AND WEST BENGAL. Recently farming of this species has gained momentum especially in WEST BENGAL due to high demand and high market value of its fingerlings (5-10 cm) as ornamental fish in domestic and international trade.

22. Nutritive value Highly nutritive food Good amount of meat Fat, phosphorus, calcium, ash, iron and water.

23. FARMING PRACTICES Cultured on small scale especially in kerala . It is cultured in a traditional manner in the pokkali fields. 20% total yields. Farming of this species is practised in AP, TN & WEST BENGAL in small scale. When compare to pond culture cage culture gives good production like 12-50 times.

24. Paddy cum fish culture

25. Pokkali field with fish culture

26. SEED PRODUCTION Seed-available throughout the year, along the east and south-west coasts of India Peak season of abundance may-July and nov-feb . Collection- brackish and fresh water tanks and ponds. Twigs or branches are kept submerged in the water , a week ahead of day of collection. Juveniles- trapped using an encircling net or trap.

27. Pond preparation Draining Removing all the materials that may be determined to the growth and productivity of fish farming. Lime application when acidic.

28. CIBA & CONCLUSION CIBA- Developed an innovative technology for easy propagation of the fish pearlspot by breeding under environmental controlled conditions. At muttukadu field centre , CIBA has successfully developed a captive broodstock of pearlspot fish . The CIBA , Chennai has been approached by the kerala govt to extend its know-how and expertise with regard to this technology for seed preparation and grow –out of pearlspot fish, as well as in their other programmes to promote peralspot fish production in state.

29. CONCLUSION It is one of the most popular fish in kerala . It is one of the most potential candidate species for aquaculture with immense commercial possibilities. Best parental care when compare to other species.

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