Early growth rate and feeding of a small group of laboratory-reared saury, Scomberesox saurus scombroides (Pisces: Scomberesocidae)

Abstract

Sea-spawned saury eggs collected 20 km off the west coast of the Cape Peninsula were hatched in laboratory tanks and the larvae reared. The larvae were fed initially on nauplii of cultured copepods, Tisbe holothuriae Humes and Pseudodiaptomus hessei (Mrázek). Growth rate during the first 47 days post-hatch averaged 0,62 mm·day⁻¹ (at 18—19°C) and between the 47th and 120th day averaged 0,45 mm·day⁻¹ (at 14,8—15,5°C). Some observations on feeding behaviour are included.