The eggs hatch in about 48 hours, and the young fish are about the size of a mosquito larva. A crucial step in culturing mahimahi is the production of large quantities of living food small enough to be eaten by the hatchlings. Rotifers and copepods are two tiny planktonic animals that fit these criteria and have made the rearing of these fish possible. A few weeks after hatching, the young are fed brine shrimp. The commercial production of mahimahi may become feasible someday, but for now many obstacles remain.
Young fish are cannibalistic and sensitive to being handled.
Research is focusing on improving the survival of the young through more nutritious diets. Mahimahi is a sports angler's delight. Perhaps someday, Hawaiian waters may be stocked with young mahimahi raised in facilities pioneered by the Waikiki Aquarium's mahimahi hatchery.