Broodstock feeding effects on spawning performances' (fertility, eggs and larvae quality) of the Mediterranean red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, Linnaeus 1758) during two years

Spawning in captivity of two broodstock groups of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) of the same age was studied during two consecutive spawning seasons. These two broodstock groups, designed as A and B, were fed with different regimes during the spawning period. Group A was fed on moist pellet while group B was fed on fresh fish.  Total number of collected eggs was 22 and 36 million respectively for groups A and B during the first year. Fecundity was 474,966 and 769,186 eggs kg-1 female respectively. During the second year, total number of collected eggs was only 5 million for group A and 32 million for group B. The fecundity was 192,094 and 1.1 million eggs kg-1 female respectively. Statistically, there was a significant difference between the slopes of the two groups in terms of quantity and quality of spawning and larval survival recorded on the second and fifth day after hatching. The viable egg rate was positively correlated with the second day larval survival, which in turn was significantly correlated with hatching egg rate. These data showed that time of collecting eggs for incubation, does not affect   hatching rate and larvae survival rate.    Key words: Pagrus, red porgy, spawning, egg quality, fertility.