Effects of temperature regime on growth and development of post-larval striped trumpeter (Latris lineata)

The striped trumpeter (Latris lineata) is a promising new candidate for diversification of aquaculture in temperate regions of Australasia. Striped trumpeter is also of scientific interest due to an unusually prolonged post-larval phase. The research aimed to identify the optimal temperature for rearing post-larval striped trumpeter approaching metamorphosis. Three-hundred-day-old post-hatch post-larvae (12.1 ± 0.2 g, 114.0 ± 0.5 mm, mean ± SE) were reared at 12, 14, 16 and 18 °C, over 84 days. Survival, growth and metamorphosis into juveniles were recorded every 21 days. Fish were fed to apparent satiation and reared in oxygen saturated water (95.9 ± 2.6%). At 14 °C, fish exhibited the best growth, had significantly higher lipid content and the majority (> 90%) of the population metamorphosed into juveniles. The performance of fish reared at 16 °C was similar to those at 14 °C but the carcass had a significantly higher protein content and a significantly smaller proportion of the population (66.2 ± 3.0%) metamorphosed into juveniles. A specific growth rate model showed that growth was highest at 14.4 °C. At 12 °C, fish showed the highest food conversion efficiency and all of the fish metamorphosed into juveniles. At 18 °C, fish showed the lowest growth, metamorphosis, and protein and energy retention. This is the first study on the effects of temperature on growth and development of striped trumpeter post-larvae. The results have important implications for aquaculture and fisheries management of striped trumpeter, in particular the rearing of post-larvae in hatcheries, timing of stocking into sea cages especially prior to metamorphosis, and for wild stock recruitment models.