Ecology and Reproductive System
Rosy bitterlings live in farm ponds (reservoirs) where freshwater mussels are abundant. Farm ponds are very important habitat for not only rosy bitterlings themselves also mussels and planktons. Freshwater mussels such as Dobugai play an important role in Rosy Bitterling reproduction.
Every female rosy bitterling has a unique pipe about the same length as its own body that is used for laying eggs on a (specific spot of mussels). Usually 2-3 eggs are laid at once and placed at the gill of the mussel. A male spawns into the gill cavity of the mussels right after a female lays eggs to ensure fertilization. Normally a female lays eggs repeatedly at 6-9 day intervals and about 10 times in a season.
Eggs grow in the mussel gill and juveniles stay inside of the mussel for approximately 15~30 days after fertilization. Eggs hatch after about 3 days when juveniles are about 2.8 mm long. The body has a unique shape resembling the bud of a matsutake mushroom. Juveniles swim out of the mussel from the margin of the excurrent siphon. At this point, juveniles are about 7.5 mm long and about the same shape as adults. Usually juveniles grow around 40–50 mm within one year at which point they become adults. R. o. kurumeus(Nippon baratanago) live for approximately 3 years and rarely exceed this lifespan.
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