Spawning, embryo development and growth of the American sand lance Ammodytes americanus in the laboratory

Ammodytes americanus adults were captured and transported to the laboratory and spawned. Eggs and larvae were successfully incubated at 2 , 4 , 7 and 10 'C. Speclfic growth rates in dry wt per day were 2.4 % at 2 "C, 3.23 % at 4 ' C . 4.75 % at ? 'C and 5.62 % at 10 "C. This was the first successful attempt to spawn sand lance in the laboratory and to rear the larvae through metamorphosis. The early life history of this fish can be completed under controlled laboratory conditions.