Broodstock development and breeding of black-finned anemone fish

Due to recent advances in saltwater fish-keeping, there is great demand for marine ornamental fishes, especially for those from the tropical coral reef habitats. Exploitation of wild stock has depleted their availability, thus making it difficult to meet the market demand. This paper describes the development of brood stock and a viable technology for commercial production of black-finned anemone fish Amphiprion nigripes. Fecundity of this species ranged from 350-450 per spawning and continuous spawning could be achieved at 12 to 16 days interval. The incubation period was 6 to 7 days. Larvae were successfully fed with rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, Artemia nauplii and particulate feed at appropriate stages of development using green-water system of larval rearing. Juveniles with average size of 15 mm were produced in 40 days with an average survival rate of 72 % and marketable size of 25 mm or more was achieved in less than four months time