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Social structure and spawning pattern in clownfish

Clownfish is one of the most popular tropical marine ornamental fish with unique colours, social hierarchy, monogamous characteristics, and features of sequential hermaphrodites. Their uniqueness also includes the mutualism with sea anemone as the host near which females lay eggs on a hard substrate. Clownfish are all born as males. In freedom, a group is structured of female, male and non-breeders. The female on the top of hierarchy is usually largest, the dominant male is second in size, and other male non-breeders become progressively smaller with descending hierarchy as a result of lower feed availability. When the female dies, the dominant male changes sex and becomes the breeding female, and the largest non-breeder takes its place. The male cares for the eggs by fanning and guards them until they hatch, which takes about 6 to 10 days. It is not unusual for the male to eat the eggs of poor quality, whether damaged, infected or infertile. If the male is stressed or not experienced breeder, it may also eat the eggs. After hatching, the young are left to their own. Clownfish can adapt to captivity accepting artificial feed. However, their unique hierarchy, monogamy and sequential hermaphroditism disable mass spawning in indoor systems. The clownfish trade is based on taking individual animals from wildlife, thus damaging the ecosystem. Therefore, it is necessary to focus studies on the reproduction of clownfish in captivity in order to develop artificial fish cultivation and reduce environmental degradation.

clownfish, social structure, spawning pattern

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