Jan 17, 2011

Breed the Clownfish.

       The main sources of marine ornamental fish are generally obtained from captivity in nature, because until now not a lot of people do a marine ornamental fish culture. Some people still catch the ornamental fish by use toxic materials that could endanger the population or the environment, so that the populations in the wild are increasingly less. So, it is necessary to develop an environment friendly fishing effort. In addition it is necessary to develop the cultivation of ornamental fish, such as by developing techniques of maintenance and spawning or breeding the fish.

       One of the famous marine ornamental fish is Clownfish which referred as the common clownfish or false Clown Anemone fish( Amphiprion ocellaris) (Cuvier, 1830 in Mc Grouther M, 2010).

       This fish has three white stripes on the head, body and base of tail. Here is the clown fish taxonomy:

Species :ocellaris

Genus : Amphiprion

Family : Pomacentridae

Order : Perciformes

Sub Class : Actinopterygii

Class : Pisces

Sub phylum : Vertebrata

Phylum : Chordata

Kingdom : Animalia

       Clown fish is an omnivorous fish species (Allen, 1972), and its reproductive characteristics protondrous hermaphrodites, where each fish was born as male, but along with the increase of the size and age, male fish will change to a female fish (Berends, B. 2007).

       To breed the fish, put the smaller fish (male), coupled with the larger size(females) in the aquarium If its look in harmony then the parent is presumed pairs.

       Feed was delivered twice a day until full (ad libitum), in the morning and afternoon. We can fed them withartificial feed or small shrimps. Water changing carried by flowing water system as much as 4 L / min. Siphon for bottom cleaning can be done every single week. On day 6 after spawning, the eggs moved from the place where the parent put it. To transfer the eggs, place in a plastic bucket so that the eggs remain submerged in water. Eggs are released from the substrate or the egg placement by using the knife carefully so as not to damage the eggs. The release of eggs carried in a state so that the eggs stillsubmerged in water. Count the number of eggs carried out visually by using a pipette. Eggs usually hatch after 1-2 days after removal. The number of eggs do not hatch were taken and counted by using a pipette to determine the hatchability of eggs (Hatching Rate).

       Clown fish (Amphiprion ocellaris) can spawn in the aquarium. The average pair of parent fish can spawn as many as 2 times a month with an average number of eggs 324 eggs in one spawning and the average production of eggs in a month is 1450 eggs.

References:
1. Allen, G.P. 1972. The anemone fish. Their Classification and Biology, T.F.H. Publication, Inc, Ltd: 288p.

2. Berends,B. 2007. Amphiprion ocellaris http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2007/berends_bets/Amphiprion ocellaris .htm

3. McGrouther, M. 2010. Animal species: False-Clown Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris (Cuvier,1830). http://australianmuseum.net.au/False-Clown-Anemonefish-Amphiprion-ocellaris-Cuvier-1830.