Photographer Fanny Floirat-Lohyer observed, during a dive, a clownfish taking care of its eggs in an anemone. Returning a few days later, she was able to see the development of the future little ones!
These fish form pairs and establish a bond with a sea anemone. The female lays her eggs inside the anemone, then the male fertilizes them by releasing his sperm on them. The eggs are adhesive and remain stuck to the chosen surface, which the couple previously cleaned. The female usually lays several thousand eggs in a single spawning, and then the male protects them, ventilates them, and removes waste. After a few days, or even a week (depending on the water temperature), the eggs hatch, releasing tiny transparent larvae. These fry then drift in the plankton, feeding on suspended particles. After a few weeks, they develop their distinctive color and choose to stay with their parents or find their own anemone to form a new pair.
In these shots, taken three days apart, we can already observe the development of the larvae, with the visible appearance of the eyes. Unfortunately, due to the insufficient duration of my stay, I was unable to observe their full development, nor, especially, their hatching. Next time…
Fanny Floirat-Lohyer
opening image © Fanny Floirat-Lohyer