A REVIEW ON BIOLOGY AND AQUACULTURE POTENTIAL OF RABBIT FISH IN TAMILNADU (SIGANUS CANALICULATUS)

Preliminary investigation on the culture of Siganus canaliculatus in floating cages in mandapam coastal water has revealed that the fish has high culture potential in the region. It is euryhaline, inhabiting areas where salinities range from 17 ppt to 37.0 ppt. The Juvenile are abundant in the area of reef and seaweed bed and collecting in traps near mandapam. Natural occurrence of juveniles of S. canaliculatus in large quantity was noticed during February through May in the Gulf of Mannar. The fish feeds mainly on seaweeds. It is reported that the fish can reach a marketable size of 20 cm fork length in 6 months. The rabbit fish is cultured in South East Asian countries. India has enormous potential for rabbit fish culture.