Interspecific Hybridization and Reproductive Biology of Marine Clownfishes, The Orange Clownfish Amphiprion percula and Clown Anemonefish A. ocellaris

Interspecific hybridization of Orange Clownfish Amphiprion percula (sire) and Clown Anemonefish A. ocellaris (dam) was displayed in successful pair formations within 4months of rearing. Spawning mostly occurred at midday after a week of courtship. Incubation of eggs took 7-8d, with the male showing the most parental care and the female sharing less time with the eggs. The hybrid embryo underwent 26 stages of cleavage to develop into a larva. The length of newly hatched hybrid larvae was significantly different from that of purebred Clown Anemonefish larvae and purebred Orange Clownfish larvae. Spawning frequency of interspecific pairs was three times in a month, similar to that of the Orange Clownfish intraspecific pair, whereas the Clown Anemonefish pair spawned two times in a month. Fecundity rate (60-370 eggs/spawn) significantly increased from the first spawn to the end of an annual cycle. Results of the present study indicate that interspecific pair formation and spawning are like those of other domesticated clownfishes. Essential reproductive parameters, such as fertilization and hatching rate, were low, but the survival rate of F-1 hybrids was similar to that of other clownfishes. The precise selection of closely related species, sexual maturation, and generating pairs are essential to initiate crossbreeding technology at commercial hatcheries.