Aquarists in Chicago are celebrating the birth of a tiny, colorful fish. This fish is believed to be the first of its kind born and raised in captivity.
The Shedd Aquarium recently welcomed a baby warty frogfish (Antennarius maculatus). They named it Domino. This fish is also known as a clown anglerfish.
A Milestone for Conservation
Warty frogfish are not endangered. However, many other fish species are. Domino's birth offers important lessons for raising marine creatures in aquariums.
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Start Your News DetoxJenny Richards, a senior aquarist at the Shedd Aquarium, noted this could help with raising other species. She told NPR that raising species in captivity is vital with changing oceans and climate change.
In the wild, warty frogfish live in tropical and subtropical oceans. They are most common in the Indo-Pacific region. These fish are about the size of a tennis ball. They hide among coral reefs and rocky seabeds. Their colorful, bumpy skin helps them blend in.
Two adult warty frogfish live at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. Last fall, caretakers noticed the female looked bloated. Soon, she released a floating mass of eggs. The male then fertilized them.
Aquarists moved the fertilized eggs to a special habitat behind the scenes. Thousands of larvae hatched. Only one survived to become a juvenile. This high mortality rate is normal for larval fish.
Domino's Development
As Domino grew, aquarists adjusted the water temperature, flow, light, and diet. They had no previous examples for raising warty frogfish in captivity. So, they used their knowledge from other species. These included green chromis and round batfish.
Today, Domino is less than half an inch across, about the size of a pea. The tiny fish eats brine shrimp, which are raised at the aquarium. Domino is also changing to a vibrant yellow and orange color.
Domino is already inspiring experts who are trying to raise other fish species. Nicole Rhody, a senior scientist at the Mote Marine Laboratory, told NPR that successful breeding is a cause for celebration. She noted it is hard to recreate nature in captivity.
Warty frogfish "walk" across the seafloor using special fins. They also use a modified fin on their head to lure prey. Domino is slowly learning these skills. Senior aquarist Kayla Melton Rogala called it "adorable" for such a tiny animal.
The adult warty frogfish are still on public display. Domino remains out of public view for now, as caretakers monitor its growth. Aquarists hope this little fish will make a big impact.
Elise Mulligan, a spokeswoman for the aquarium, shared a statement with PEOPLE magazine. She hopes Domino inspires people to discover and protect the ocean.
