Broodstock development, breeding, embryonic development and larviculture of spine-cheek anemonefish, Premnas biaculeatus (Bloch, 1790)

The broodstock development, breeding, embryonic development and larviculture of Premnas biaculeatus and different feeding and envrionmental conditioins are reported for the first tiem. The influence of enriched rotifer (Brachionus rotundiformis, Brachionus plicatilis) and non-enriched newly hatched Artemia nauplii along with microalgae (Chlorella marina, Nannochloropsis oculata and Isochrysis galbana) on larval rearing and survival was elucidated. Fishes in the length range of of 55 to 70 mm (presumptive male) and 120 to 150 mm (presumptive female) were selected for pair formation experiments along with single host sea anemone Heteractis magnifica. All the 10 pairs started spawning within four months after they were shifted to the breeding tanks. Eggs were laid in round patches or clutches at intervals of 15 to 20 days with an average of 2.09 ± 0.3 spawnings per month per pair giving an annual number of 1752 -11832 eggs per pair. Upon incubation for six days in complete darkness, 95-98% of the eggs hatched with the peak hatching between 1830 and 1930 hrs. On 20th day post-hatch (d.p.h.), most of the larvae metamorphosed to juveniles and began to shift from partially pelagic to epibenthic and the juveniles reached marketable size from 60th d.p.h. onwards