Heat waves in Kerala: Impacts on clownfish reproduction in captivity

Abstract

The clown fishes are valuable and popular marine ornamental fish, but scientific reports on their egg filial cannibalistic behaviour are scarce. The present study examines the impact of temperature and dissolved oxygen associated with clownfish breeding, particularly during temperature fluctuations in summer. Though increased spawning frequencies were observed with rising temperature, a notable surge in filial cannibalism was also documented when the temperature reached 31 °C. This coincided with a significant decline in dissolved oxygen levels to 3.43 mg/L, suggesting a potential link between temperature stress and reproductive anomalies in clownfish under captive conditions.