Received: 23-10-2012 / Accepted: 25-12-2013
The experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of temperature and salinity on embryonic development of the Tiger grouper (Epinephelus futcoguttatus)and to determine the optimal temperature and salinity for incubation of Tiger grouper eggs. The fertilized egg of Tiger grouper was incubated in a series of 1L-glass beakers at a density of 100 eggs/L and divided two separated trials. The first experiment was conducted at five temperature levels of 23ºC, 26ºC, 29ºC, 32ºC, 35ºC, each treatment was run in triplicate. The second experiment was implemented at different salinity of 23‰, 26‰, 29‰, 32‰, 35‰. The study results clearly show that the highest hatching rate (89.6 ± 3.2%) and the lowest deformity rate (6.3 ± 0.4%) were obtained in the treatment which were incubated at 29oC compared to the others (P<0.05). The second experiment demonstrated that the salinity of 32 -35‰ are suitable for incubation of tiger grouper egg as the highest hatching rate of 83.4 -85.6% and the lowest deformity rate of 1.79 -1.85% were obtained (P<0.05). In conclusion, among the treatments, the temperature of 29ºC and salinity of 32 and 35‰ are the best conditions for Tiger grouper eggs incubation.