Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.5513/JCEA01/26.4.4967
Supporting natural populations of European bullhead (Cottus gobio) through ex situ breeding and rearing
István IMECS
; Department of Freshwater Fish Ecology, Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, HU-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
*
Alpár KELEMEN
; Phoenixpert Ltd., RO-535100, Băile Tușnad, 61 Gării Street, Romania
András A. NAGY
; Milvus Group Bird and Nature Protection Association, Crinului street 22, RO–540343 Târgu Mureș, Romania
Nguyễn N. QUYẾN
; Faculty of Fisheries, Nong Lam University, Block 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Hajime MATSUBARA
; Noto Center for Fisheries Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, 11-4-1 Ossaka, Noto-cho, Ishikawa 9270552, Japan
Tamás MÜLLER
; Department of Freshwater Fish Ecology, Hungarian University of Agricultural and Life Sciences, HU-2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
Ex situ breeding and larvae rearing offer a promising tool for supporting declining natural populations of European bullhead (Cottus gobio), a small benthic fish of conservation concern. This study evaluated the success of captive reproduction and early larval rearing under controlled conditions as a preparatory step for future restocking efforts. Adult bullheads were maintained in aquarium settings, with spawning occurring between April 2 and 3, 2025, at temperatures of 9–13 °C. Six egg clutches, averaging 400 eggs each, were monitored; larvae commenced feeding 15–16 days posthatching. Over a 3-week rearing experiment, three feeding treatments (fresh Artemia, frozen Artemia, and a mixed diet) were tested for effects on larval growth. Mortality was minimal in all groups; however, larvae fed exclusively on frozen Artemia exhibited significantly smaller body lengths and greater variability compared to those on fresh or mixed diets, which did not differ significantly. 751 feeding larvae were obtained from ~4,400 eggs, resulting in a survival efficiency of 17.1%. Unlike many studies lacking quantitative tracking from egg to juvenile stages, our results confirm the viability of captive breeding for C. gobio and provide essential baseline data for future conservation-driven propagation and release programs.
Keywords
spawning substrate; conservation biology; Artemia nauplii; larvae rearing
Hrčak ID:
341969
URI
Publication date:
19.12.2025.
Visits: 347 *