An experiment was conducted to evaluate the optimal stocking density for rearing of the Mandarinfish larvae. Twelve units of 5-litre glass tanks were divided into 4 triplicate treatments. The larvae were stocked in different densities at 5, 10, 15, and 20 larvae/l of the experiment. The experiment was conducted over a period of 30 days. The results showed that stocking densities affect survival of the larvae (p<0.05) but there were no significant differences in growth and development (Metamorphosis) of the larvae among treatments (p>0.05). The larvae at a stocking density of 15 larvae/l had the lowest survival rate (3.56±1.09%^b) while there were no significant differences in survival rates (±SE) at stocking densities of 5 (10.67±1.09%^a), 10 (6.67±1.33%^ab), and 20 larvae/l (7.00±2.08%^ab), respectively. Average final standard length (±SE) and total length (±SE) of the larvae ranged between 4.17±0.51-5.00±0.07 mm and 5.25±0.64-6.37±0.06 mm, respectively. The earliest metamorphosis of the larvae occurred within 13.67±2.19 days (±SE) while the latest metamorphosis occurred within 24.67±2.67 days. The overall results suggest that the Mandarinfish larvae can be reared at a stocking density of 20 larvae/ l without any effects on survival, growth, and development.

Keywords: Mandarin fish, Synchiropus splendidus (Herre, 1927), larval density, Larviculture