Hatchery

The hatchery stage is the next stage of culture.  Larvae require brackish water (12 ppt), are free swimming, and eat live Artemia (brine shrimp).  As larvae grow they metamorphose through 11 larval or zoeal stages before metamorphosing into postlarvae (PL).  Click to see a printable drawing of the larval stages.  At this stage of development they look the same as adults except they are very small (approximately 1 cm), and weigh 0.01 g.  They no longer require saline water. 

An example of a commercial scale hatchery. 

More detailed literature on hatchery management is available at this link:

Hatchery and Nursery Management

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