Barrier Reef Anemonefish - Reproduction

Reproduction

The Barrier Reef Anemonefish is a nesting fish. A few days before mating aggression from the dominant male towards the female increases, and at the same time he begins clearing a nest site, usually on a rock close to the host anemone. The rock is cleaned of algae, sometimes with the assistance of the female. When spawning takes place the female zig-zags over the nest site and the male follows fertilizing the eggs which have been deposited. Between 100 and 1000 elliptical eggs of between 3 and 4 mm in length may be laid. They are attached to the nest site by a mass of short filaments. The male guards the nest for 6 to 7 days until the eggs hatch. All the fry are born sexless - they develop into males first, and into females only if they rise to the top of the hierarchy within a particular hosted group.

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