Growth and Early Life Morphological Development of Hatchery Reared Yellowtail Clownfish (Amphiprion clakii Bennett, 1830)

Abstract

Background and Objectives : Yellow-tail clownfish Amphiprion clakii Bennetts, 1830 a breeding potential ornamental sea fish for increasing farmers' incomes and reducing natural catchment.

Methodology : This study aimed to study the growth and morphological development of the fish for benefit breeding management. The fish breeding was performed and the larval and juvenile specimens for size-series collection. A total of 19 size series and 113 number of larval and juvenile specimens (n) were collected for size-series collection.

Main Results : The result showed that the new hatching larva has a body length (BL) of 3.87±0.00 mm BL  (n = 10), develops to post-flexion stage within 5 days 4.42±0.01 mm BL (n = 5), and develops to juvenile stage within 35 days 8.56±0.04 mm BL (n = 5). The linear regression relationship between age (Age) and body size (BL) was BL=0.1231Age+3.9241 (r2=0.9859). The new hatching larva has a moderate and compressed body with a body depth (BD) of 22.14 %BL, a moderate and compressed head with a head length (BD) of 26.72 %BL, a large and rounded eye with an eye diameter of 45.71 %HL, 26 total myomeres. The body was deeper when it reached the post-flexion and juvenile stages with a range of 42.31 - 42.45 %BL. The three vertical bars along the head and body appeared at 15 days of age.

Conclusions : Finally, the yellow tail clownfish has a morphological development similar to the general perciform fishes but differs by being larger in new hatching size and fast development.