AbstractExperiments were conducted to evaluate and compare the production, quality and survival of eggs and the subsequent growth and survival of fry in two small‐scale production systems: natural incubation and egg collection followed by artificial incubation. Artificial incubation produced a significantly greater number and biomass of fry per unit weight of female broodstock (P<0·05). This was due to the significantly decreased spawning interval in females from which eggs were collected (mean = 23· days) compared to naturally incubating females (mean = 36·8 days). It is also hypothesized that survival during artificial incubation (85) is greater than in natural incubation. Cost‐benefit analysis demonstrated a threefold increase in total net returns for artificial incu
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