Embryonic Development of Black Neon Tetra Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi Géry, 1961

Abstract

The current study described the embryonic development stages of black neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon herbertaxelrodi), an economic ornamental fish. We characterized the stages of the zygote, cleavage, blastula, gastrula, segmentation, pharyngula, and hatching occurring during embryogenesis, which emphasizes changing spectrum of the main development processes from fertilization to incubation. The findings were put forth and photographed by examining live embryos under microscopy. Embryonic development of black neon tetra concluded at 24 ± 0.5°C water temperature at 20-21 hours. The first embryonic division occurs within the first 43 minutes after fertilization, and the process goes on to blastula at 02 hours and 28 minutes. The gastrula stage began at 02.57 hours, while 6 somite segmentation stages were observed to occur at 08.14 hours. Following the pharyngula stage seen between 17 to 20 hours, the hatching occurred at 20-21hours. The results of this study can provide significant benefits to professional breeders in the aquaculture of black neon tetra and other ornamental fish species.