| Sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax (mean weight: 748 +/- 13 g), were maintained before and during vitellogenesis in 1, 3, 8, 16 and 32 m(3) tanks, and then they were transferred to 2 m(3) tanks, for the spawning season. During the first 2 months of the experiment, the growth rates were significantly lower in smaller tanks (1 m(3)). In August, the oocyte diameters were significantly lower in smaller tanks (1, 3 and 8 m(3)) than in larger (16-32 m(3)) tanks. At the end of the experiment, the fish mean weight in the 1 m(3) tanks was significantly lower than in the 3 m(3) tanks, but oocyte diameters and plasma oestradiol concentrations were not significantly different between the volumes. This shows a longer acclimation requirement in smaller volume rearing.... |
