Morphological development of bagrid catfish, Mystus nemurus at early larval stage

This present study investigated the morphological development of bag rid catfish larvae, Mystus nemurus from 0 day until 15 days after hatching. The larvae were obtained from the artificial induced breeding by using the broodstock in 400 - 500g. The newly hatched larvae were 4.45±0.05 mm in length at 26.3 - 27.8ÂoC and grow to 17.25±1.01 mm at 15 days after hatching. The nutrition transition period of larvae was 39 hours because the larvae initiated feeding at 36 hours after hatching at 26.3 - 27.8ÂoC while the yolk absorption completed at 75 hours after hatching at 26.3 - 27.8ÂoC. Mouth size at first feeding was 738±73.97µm and the ideal feed was rotifer, Moina sp. and Artemia nauplii. The larvae resembled the adult in its external features at 15 days after hatching.