Parental care in fishes involves various behaviors to protect eggs and offspring. Many fish build elaborate nests, such as sunfish creating shallow basin nests. Others guard eggs in their mouths or coil around them. Parental care increases survival chances for offspring and helps continue species. Behaviors seen include nest building, guarding eggs, and caring for hatchlings. Parental care is an important evolutionary development for fish reproduction.

1. Parental Care in FishesParental Care in Fishes
Sameer G ChebbiSameer G Chebbi
Dept. of ZoologyDept. of Zoology
Industrial Fish and FisheriesIndustrial Fish and Fisheries
Karnatak Science College, DharwadKarnatak Science College, Dharwad

2. IntroductionIntroduction
• Reproductive Behaviour in fishesReproductive Behaviour in fishes
• Reproductive behaviour comprisesReproductive behaviour comprises
activity concerned with establishmentactivity concerned with establishment
and maintenance of territory i.e., Nestand maintenance of territory i.e., Nest
building behaviour and bringing the malebuilding behaviour and bringing the male
and female in close for the ovi-positionand female in close for the ovi-position
and fertilization.and fertilization.
• Parental care that comprises of all theirParental care that comprises of all their
activity associated with the care of theactivity associated with the care of the
eggs and young ones from fertilization tilleggs and young ones from fertilization till
the young ones are separated fromthe young ones are separated from
parents.parents.

3. IntroductionIntroduction
• There are some fishes which mayThere are some fishes which may
breed more than once in a year, butbreed more than once in a year, but
the main aim of the breeding isthe main aim of the breeding is
brought about the union of spermbrought about the union of sperm
and eggs after fertilization of eggand eggs after fertilization of egg
and the next is the survival of theand the next is the survival of the
fertilized egg.fertilized egg.
• In open water millions of eggs areIn open water millions of eggs are
laid at once at time but all of themlaid at once at time but all of them
do not mature at the same time butdo not mature at the same time but
they are mature at batch wise.they are mature at batch wise.

4. IntroductionIntroduction
• There are 3 basic type of fishThere are 3 basic type of fish
reproduction is seen and they are asreproduction is seen and they are as
followsfollows
• Bisexual: In this type of reproductionBisexual: In this type of reproduction
eggs and sperms are developed in aeggs and sperms are developed in a
separate individual. Ex: Sardine, Catla.separate individual. Ex: Sardine, Catla.
• Hermaphrodite: In this type ofHermaphrodite: In this type of
reproduction both eggs and sperms arereproduction both eggs and sperms are
developed in a same individual. Ex:developed in a same individual. Ex:
Sciaenid.Sciaenid.
• Parthenogenesis: In this type ofParthenogenesis: In this type of
production the young once are developedproduction the young once are developed
without fertilization. Ex: Amazon Molly.without fertilization. Ex: Amazon Molly.

5. Parental CareParental Care
• Parental care is effective production ofParental care is effective production of
eggs and sperms alone would not beeggs and sperms alone would not be
enough to bring about the survival ofenough to bring about the survival of
the species.the species.
• Quite a large number of fishes haveQuite a large number of fishes have
evolved various means for affordingevolved various means for affording
care to the fertilized egg and youngcare to the fertilized egg and young
once by one or both sexes raring ofonce by one or both sexes raring of
their fertilized eggs or young once, andtheir fertilized eggs or young once, and
which is very important achievement inwhich is very important achievement in
the trend of evolution.the trend of evolution.
• This phenomenon of parental care isThis phenomenon of parental care is
well developed in many group of fishes.well developed in many group of fishes.

6. Parental CareParental Care
• Parental care in fishes is anParental care in fishes is an
interesting instinct behaviour ofinteresting instinct behaviour of
certain vertebrate which offerscertain vertebrate which offers
protection to their eggs and youngprotection to their eggs and young
once.once.
• Fish lay millions of eggs in the openFish lay millions of eggs in the open
water and are expose to variouswater and are expose to various
dangerous situation.dangerous situation.
• Parental care is must in some of theParental care is must in some of the
fishes that lay small number offishes that lay small number of
eggs.eggs.

7. Parental CareParental Care
• There are large number ofThere are large number of
interesting cases like parentsinteresting cases like parents
protect and take care of theirprotect and take care of their
fertilized eggs and young once.fertilized eggs and young once.
• Hence, fishes have evolved variousHence, fishes have evolved various
means of affording protection to themeans of affording protection to the
fertilized eggs and young once.fertilized eggs and young once.
• Selection breeding ground, nestSelection breeding ground, nest
forming, laying of eggs or youngforming, laying of eggs or young
once at suitable places are theonce at suitable places are the
different behaviour shown by thedifferent behaviour shown by the
fishes during breeding season.fishes during breeding season.

8. Parental CareParental Care
• Some of the behaviour such as NestSome of the behaviour such as Nest
building, tertiary behaviour, protectionbuilding, tertiary behaviour, protection
of eggs or young once etc., are theof eggs or young once etc., are the
some of the important aspect of thesome of the important aspect of the
parental care.parental care.
• Hence, Parental care includes, all theHence, Parental care includes, all the
post spawning or post mating carepost spawning or post mating care
afforded by the parents.afforded by the parents.
• It may be defined as “an associationIt may be defined as “an association
between the parents and the offspringbetween the parents and the offspring
to increase the chances of survival ofto increase the chances of survival of
offspring to continuation of race in theoffspring to continuation of race in the
future.future.

9. IntroductionIntroduction
• Various devices have been adoptedVarious devices have been adopted
by the fish by the purpose ofby the fish by the purpose of
parental care as they are as followsparental care as they are as follows
• Formation of NestFormation of Nest
• Mouth Cavity as Shelter.Mouth Cavity as Shelter.
• Coiling around the eggs.Coiling around the eggs.
• Formation of Intugumentory cups.Formation of Intugumentory cups.
• Development of Brood Pouches.Development of Brood Pouches.
• Viviparity.Viviparity.

10. Parental CareParental Care
• Different species of fishes buildsDifferent species of fishes builds
different types of nest for the protectiondifferent types of nest for the protection
of their eggs or young once. Followingof their eggs or young once. Following
are the commonly seen in fish.are the commonly seen in fish.
• Basin like nest: Ex: SunfishBasin like nest: Ex: Sunfish
Male fish of the North America i.e., SunMale fish of the North America i.e., Sun
fish which scoop up a shallow basin likefish which scoop up a shallow basin like
circular nest in the bottom of the watercircular nest in the bottom of the water
body for the laying eggs by female. Thebody for the laying eggs by female. The
large sized stones are removed from thelarge sized stones are removed from the
nest and only a fine sand layer is left fornest and only a fine sand layer is left for
the attachment of the fertilized eggs. Thethe attachment of the fertilized eggs. The
male look after the nest until all eggsmale look after the nest until all eggs
hatch and young once are come out ofhatch and young once are come out of
the nest.the nest.

11. IntroductionIntroduction
• Crude type of nest: Ex: Amia andCrude type of nest: Ex: Amia and
OphiocephalusOphiocephalus
• These two fishes build the nest on theThese two fishes build the nest on the
swampy end of the lake. Nest is circularswampy end of the lake. Nest is circular
in appearance and has a soft vegetationin appearance and has a soft vegetation
surrounding it and forming a crude typesurrounding it and forming a crude type
of nest. After the completion of the nestof nest. After the completion of the nest
one or more female enter the nest andone or more female enter the nest and
layed the eggs in large number. Whichlayed the eggs in large number. Which
get attached to the vegetation andget attached to the vegetation and
development proceeds under thedevelopment proceeds under the
constant watch of the male fishes andconstant watch of the male fishes and
the young fishes hatch out. They arethe young fishes hatch out. They are
allowed to leave the nest under theallowed to leave the nest under the
protection of male who always guard andprotection of male who always guard and
together by encircling to them whenevertogether by encircling to them whenever
if feels danger.if feels danger.

12. IntroductionIntroduction
• Hole type of Nest: Ex: African lungfishHole type of Nest: Ex: African lungfish
• This type of fish builds the nest in theThis type of fish builds the nest in the
form of irregular deep hole all about 1ftform of irregular deep hole all about 1ft
length on the swampy places along thelength on the swampy places along the
river banks. Male guard the nest andriver banks. Male guard the nest and
after spawning male keeps on guard overafter spawning male keeps on guard over
it. At occasionally aerated the water byit. At occasionally aerated the water by
its slow body movements with help ofits slow body movements with help of
fins and stirring the water with help offins and stirring the water with help of
the tail for the benefit of the developingthe tail for the benefit of the developing
eggs and female fish swim around theeggs and female fish swim around the
nest and chase the predator fishes.nest and chase the predator fishes.

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