Search

Spawning of Ocellaris Clownfish in our Marine Aquarium

on 29th September 2017

1. IMG_0475

“I would like to share with all of you a great piece of news from our Marine Aquarium at Commonwealth Secondary School.

2. FullSizeRender (4)

“A pair of Ocellaris Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) has started to reproduce in our Marine Aquarium. 

3. FullSizeRender (5)

“When two clownfish are paired, the couple stays together for several years. Upon spawning period in the courtship, the males attract the females by extending their fins and dancing in front of the female. 

4. IMG_0471

“The male and female then begin to clean up a patch of rock at the base of their favourite host sea anemone.

5 IMG_0470

“The female swims over the cleaned surface and starts to deposit about 200-400 eggs, while the male follows behind to fertilise them.

6.FullSizeRender (6)

“The male will assume an aggressive behaviour to guard and protect the eggs until they hatch, removing dead eggs to prevent fungal growth, fanning the eggs using his mouth and fins to prevent algae from growing on top of them and removing debris.

7. IMG_0472

“We have recorded a footage of the male taking care of the eggs. 

“Each egg looks like a tiny bright orange capsule, measuring about 2-3 mm long and 1 mm wide. Over the few days, the eggs would turn dark and pairs of silvery eyes would become more and more visible. One day prior to hatching, the eggs develop a silver colour. 

8. IMG_0489

“Depending on temperature, the eggs would take a total of 8-10 days to hatch.

“Eco Club students, Shaha Muhammad Muneer (Class 2-6) and Kim Jeongyeon (Class 2-4) have been covering the progress of the eggs development since last Thursday.” 

Jacob Tan Guanrui
Senior Teacher (Biology)
Commonwealth Secondary School
Singapore
20th September 2017

If you like this post please tap on the Like button at the left bottom of page. Any views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the authors/contributors, and are not endorsed by the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM, NUS) or its affiliated institutions. Readers are encouraged to use their discretion before making any decisions or judgements based on the information presented.

YC Wee

Dr Wee played a significant role as a green advocate in Singapore through his extensive involvement in various organizations and committees: as Secretary and Chairman for the Malayan Nature Society (Singapore Branch), and with the Nature Society (Singapore) as founding President (1978-1995). He has also served in the Nature Reserve Board (1987-1989), Nature Reserves Committee (1990-1996), National Council on the Environment/Singapore Environment Council (1992-1996), Work-Group on Nature Conservation (1992) and Inter-Varsity Council on the Environment (1995-1997). He is Patron of the Singapore Gardening Society and was appointed Honorary Museum Associate of the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum (LKCNHM) in 2012. In 2005, Dr Wee started the Bird Ecology Study Group. With more than 6,000 entries, the website has become a valuable resource consulted by students, birdwatchers and researchers locally and internationally. The views and opinions expressed in this article are his own, and do not represent those of LKCNHM, the National University of Singapore or its affiliated institutions.

Other posts by YC Wee

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
Archives

Overall visits (since 2005)

Live visitors
1202
11595
Visitors Today
51726483
Total
Visitors

Clustrmaps (since 2016)