# @science on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DVhCa-rkocU
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/58603756-science-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/0d22f6bc9e.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-03-05T20:30:18.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Science 🧬 (@science) — https://gondola.cc/science

## Caption

🧬 Clownfish are all born males, and the dominant male of a group will turn female when the female of that group dies.⁠
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Clownfish, also known as anemonefish, are sequential hermaphrodites that first develop into males. They live in regimented schools made up of all males and just one female, the lone female being the dominant and generally the largest fish in a given group. The second in command of the school is usually the largest and most aggressive male of the group. Due to his dominance over the other males, he tends to ensure they stay small by taking the best food opportunities for himself and the like. Besides the perks of more food, he’s also the only one who gets to breed with the female.⁠
During breeding, the female will sometimes lay thousands of eggs, depending on the species and her size, usually on a pre-cleaned rock or coral close to the anemone they live in. After the eggs are laid, the male will go along and fertilize them.⁠
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From here, if a given egg is poor quality, whether damaged or it becomes infected by a fungus or the like, the male will typically eat the egg. Likewise, if the egg is infertile, or if the clownfish is an inexperienced breeder or stressed, he may also simply eat the eggs.⁠
Otherwise, the male, and rarely the female, will guard the fish for the 6-10 days it takes to hatch, as well as regularly fan them, which increases the chances of the eggs successfully developing. After the eggs hatch, the parents’ job is done, and they have nothing to do with the baby fish, who ascend to the surface and feed on plankton until maturation.⁠
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If the female dies, the dominant male will get the first choice of food and begin to gain weight, ultimately becoming female. She will then choose a breeding partner among the available males, which is usually the largest and most aggressive male available.⁠
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#clowfish #fish #marinebiology #biology #science #evolution

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## Tags

evolution, fish, science, clowfish, biology, marinebiology

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