• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.586-593
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• 1985

The rose bitterling, Rhodeus ocellatus (KNER) is commonly distributed in the fresh waters of Korea and Japan. On January 15, February 15, and March 18 in 1984, mature adults of rose bitterling were caught in the watercourse of Maeri, Kimhae, South Korea. The authors fertilized the eggs employing dry method in the laboratory on May 7, 16 and 25 in 1984. Hatched larvae were reared in small aquariums at $17{\sim}25.5^{\circ}C$ (average around $21.2^{\circ}C$). Mollusks, Anodonta woodiana in the gill chamber of which, rose bitterling lay eggs were caught in order to study natural spawning of the rose bitterling in the same watercourse. The eggs of this species are not adhesive and demersal. The size of the eggs varies from 2.54 to 2.75mm in long diameter and 1.45 to 1.65mm in short diameter. The eggs are cylindrical in form when they are extruded from ovipositor, immediately after entering water, but they acquire their distinctive form of a greatly elongated pear. Hatching took place in ca. 39 hours after fertilization. The newly hatched larvae were $2.65{\sim}2.70mm$ in total length possessing yolk sac and 13-14 myotomes. Thirteen days after hatching, the prelarvae attained 6.5 mm in total length, and the first melanophores appeared on the head, and the anterior part and sides of the yolk sac. One month after hatching, the postlarvae attained 8.5mm. in total length and emerged from the gills of the mollusks. Then the yolk sac was completely resorbed. Two months after hatching, the rose bitterling attained 14.4mm in total length, and entered the fingerling period of life. All the rays already present were the D. III, 11-12, A. III, 11-12, P. 10, V. 7. and a distinguishing, feature is the presence of a black pigment spot in the lobe of the dorsal fin.