Embryo Development and Larval Rearing of Pink Clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion)

Abstract

Pink clownfish (Amphiprion perideraion) belongs to the subfamily of Amphiprioninae in the Pomacentridae family. During the 247 days of observation, the pink clownfish ovulated 21 times. The oviposition came after the brooders began to clean the spawning substrate together; the venter of female grew larger with a protrusion in the female breed aperture. The spawning interval and hatching Ume required of A. perideraion under 27±1℃ of water temperature and 34±1 parts per thousand (ppt) of salinity was 13.0±3.7 day & 7.2±1.2 (n=49) days post spawning (DPS), with about 300-700 eggs per spawning. The spawning activity lasted more than one hour starting from 09:15 to 14:05 with most spawning from 09:00 to 11:00. These adhesion demersal eggs were orange and ellipsoidal, which were about 1.85±0.20 (n=30) mm in diameter. The yolks were about 1.30±0.13 mm in diameter and contained several oil droplets were about 152±109 μm in diameter. The newly hatched larvae were about 3.20-3.80 mm in total length, which were phototactic and the phototaxis decreased as they grew. The larvae were fed with rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) from day one post hatching (1 DPH) to 11 DPH. On 12 DPH, copepod was added to the feeds and the amount was increased gradually until it totally replaced rotifers on the 15 DPH. The 22 DPH fry showed fighting and territorial behavior. The band on the body surface of the larvae at 26 DPH (12.56 mm) is similar to that of adult. The 59 DPH old fry were about 16.62-28.63 mm in total length and could be completely fed with pellet feed. The development of protective systems in those without any changes in color is incomplete.