Biology of Finfish and Shellfish

4.5.2.2. Brood Hiders

They hide their eggs in one way or another, but there is no parental care. This type of strategy is exhibited by benthic spawner and some fishes bury their eggs. Further divided into five categories.

a) Lithophils:

The eggs are hidden in natural or constructed hiding places. The females build their nest by digging the gravel to form a pit. e.g: salmon and trout.

b ) Speleophils:

Normally cave spawners exhibit this type of strategy. Eggs are large, adhesive and deposited in the crevices of rocks. This prevents cannibalism and predation by other fishes.

c) Ostracophils:

These fishes hide their eggs in the shells of living invertebrates, especially in the gill of many invertebrates. Some fishes deposit the eggs in the gill cavity of molluscan shell for two reasons such as protection and supply of oxygen. e.g: Rhodeus sericeus. They deposit their eggs in freshwater clam called unio species; snail fish (Cyclopteridae) deposit their eggs in the gills of crabs.

d) Beach spawners (or Aero- psammophiles)

Fishes incubate their eggs in the beach just above the tidal water level. e.g: puffer fish

e) Xerophils:

There fishes deposit their eggs in mud & sand and eggs are capable of withstanding dry and harsh environmental conditions. e.g: cyprinodontids