clownfish hormones

[Ron Popeil]

so i know that fresh water fish farmers often, if not always, use injected hormones to stimulate or induce breeding in their fish.

im assuming, fish biologists synthesized the chemicals the fish would naturally produce, increased the dosage and discovered that injecting the fish vastly increased the liklihood of breeding.

now to cross over to clownfish, is something like this possible or already in application? in more detail, it would be fascinating to hear from anyone with experience with these sexual hormones in fish, particularly clownfish, and discuss why or why not this same process is possible in clownfish....

are there any studies i can read on sexual hormones in saltwater fish, or even their synthesis and replication? is this an area of little study? or is it too much like cheating that it robs the standard fish breeder the challenge of using environmental factors to induce breeding?

[schlecht13]

I'm not that far into the breeding side of clowns but would be very interested to know as you are.

Like you mentioned, it is well known in the FW world and is common practice with things like rainbow trout hatcheries in this part of the U.S.

I wish I could comment in the marine world. I imagine it has been discussed but either their is some hold-up or someone doesn't want to give away their secret

[Ron Popeil]

i have a feeling its definetely been dabbled with, if not here with ORA then over in hatcheries overseas. it would be unfortunate if it was completely a secret for trademark or business reasons, but hopefully we can get some hints or discussions into its use or future in regards to hobbyists.

[cschweitzer]

Barry White is the only hormone you need. It gets injected in the ears, though.:happy0201:

That would be a cool study for someone to propose to a company to get research grants and maybe free fish to attempt...

[Ediaz]

I read a paper and a friend met the guy at MO once, nice presentation but nothing happened, the fish never spawned it was with occelaris.

A friend had someone over from a public aquarium, they injected the fish with hormones, they never spawned.

There is no need for it, well taken cared for clownfish will spawn, I know, I know when are those ****** clownfish are going to lay?!
Hatcheries have so many spawning pairs, laying and in "pairing system" that is not necesary to do this.

The place i used to work is pulling 30+ ocellaris nests every nite the natural way, can you imagine that?

Ed

[schlecht13]

If anything it would reduce pressure on wild stocks by being able to breed just about any clown you wanted

[cschweitzer]

Schlect, I was just about to say that.

Ed If they're pulling 30+ of occelaris, why no latz? Why no Oman? Why no gasters? Get them working on the good fish... J/K(kind of)

[schlecht13]

Ed--Where did you used to work if you don't mind my asking?

[schlecht13]

I know you mention there is no need, but due to the genetic differences between the clown species (extremely small), it would be helpful to have a type of hormone treatment to induce spawning so some of the more rare species could be bred. I realize that yes the demand is not as high for Latz as Ocellaris, but this again enable wild stocks to stand at current levels if not increase.

[cschweitzer]

Also, a hormone that could induce spawning could possibly induce (or open the door for) sexing, or creation of a male or female specifically, which would allow for faster and better pairing with known sexes.