Induced spawning by hand-stripping is one of the best methods of getting fertilized eggs for mass production of L calcarifer fry. This method is more suited for hatcheries which are located near the spawning grounds and have no spawner in grow out culture ponds. The hormone usually used to induce spawning in L calcarifer is HCG. The dosage ranges from 50 to 1,000 IU/kg body weight. Injection is given either behind the pectoral fin, the lateral side or between first and second dorsal fins.
After the eggs are stripped out, the milt from the male is stripped on to the extruded eggs. The eggs and milt are then gently stirred using a feather until well mixed. After this, some water is added and mixed again. The mixture of eggs and milt is then washed repeatedly with clean saline water. The fertilized eggs are put in vinyl plastic bags with sea water of proper salinity (28 to 32 ppt) and transferred to the hatchery