Behavioural differences between breeding and nonbreeding pairs of protandry monogamous false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris

Eri Iwata; Tasuku  Yoshida; Tetsuya Abe; Kou Takahara; Koji Masuda

doi:10.17017/j.fish.179

Eri Iwata Department of Science and Technology, Iwaki Meisei University, 5-5-1 Chuoudai, Ihino, Iwaki, Fukushima 970-8551, Japan; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, 1-3, Ikoinooka, Imabari City, Ehime, 794-8555, Japan; Institute of Osaka Marine Research, 19-34, Shimodachou, Nishi Ku, Sakai City, Osaka, 593-8329, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4178-7551
Tasuku Yoshida Department of Science and Technology, Iwaki Meisei University, 5-5-1 Chuoudai, Ihino, Iwaki, Fukushima 970-8551, Japan
Tetsuya Abe Department of Science and Technology, Iwaki Meisei University, 5-5-1 Chuoudai, Ihino, Iwaki, Fukushima 970-8551, Japan
Kou Takahara Department of Science and Technology, Iwaki Meisei University, 5-5-1 Chuoudai, Ihino, Iwaki, Fukushima 970-8551, Japan
Koji Masuda Department of Human and Animal-Plant Relationships, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1737 Funako, Atsugi, Kanagawa 243-0034, Japan

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17017/j.fish.179

Keywords: Anemonefish, Amphiprion ocellaris, ornamental fish, social behaviour, breeding, sexual maturation

Abstract

Anemonefishes are some of the most popular marine ornamental fishes. Due to the adverse impacts of commercial fishing on the wild populations of anemonefishes, a more suitable and efficient captive breeding programme must be promoted. In the wild, anemonefishes are protandrous sex-changing fish, but when two immature individuals with ambisexual gonads are raised together in captivity, the two differentiate directly into a male and a female, to form a breeding pair. However, not all the formed pairs spawn, explaining the great care required in captive breeding. This behaviour appears to be counter-adaptative, as anemonefish social groups form randomly in the wild, and such phenomenon would disturb their breeding success. This study evaluated the behavioural and physiological differences between breeding and nonbreeding pairs of false clown anemonefish Amphiprion ocellaris under captive conditions. Behavioural observations revealed that nonbreeding females monopolized the shelter provided, whereas breeding females allowed breeding males to use the shelter and the pair frequently stayed together in the shelter. Both nonbreeding and breeding females possessed mature ovarian tissue and similar level of plasma estradiol concentrations, but nonbreeding males had a smaller amount of testicular tissue and lower plasma 11-ketotestosterone levels compared to breeding males.

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