
Fish Lab & Marine Aquaria
Clownfish Breeding
During February, we recorded 2 spawning events from each species; our breeding pairs of Clark’s clownfish (Amphiprion clarkii) successfully produced 500 larvae, but the parents of the Maldivian (Amphiprion nigripes) and Common clownfish (Amphirion oscellaris) ate their eggs.
The first spawnings of all 3 species produced weakly coloured eggs and low hatching rates, possibly due to unmet dietary requirements. After introducing krill into their diets, the second spawnings produced much better-quality eggs, so we are currently revising their diet plans.
This month, we also collected 3 new breeding pairs of Maldivian clownfish from anemones on the house reef.
Large Aquarium
During February, we collected a variety of fish for our main display tank, with more to come in the following weeks. Our current focus is to introduce more bottom-feeding species to clean up the algae, namely gobies (Valencienna sexguttato) and goat fish (Mullidae). We will also be increasing the numbers and varieties of brightly coloured fish species to create an authentic representation of a Maldivian reef.
- Black eye rabbitfish (Siganus puelloides) – With a diet of sponges, tunicates and algae, they are often found on algae-rich reefs.
- Checkerboard wrasse (Halichoeres hortulanus) – Capable of changing appearance and sex depending on environment and reproductive needs. Native to the Indian ocean and central Pacific.
- Emporer angel fish (Pomacanthus imperator) – First identified in 1787, this species has been a favourite due to its elegant colours, earning it the imperator title. Their appearance changes so much, that the juvenile stage was considered a different species until 1933.
Small Aquarium One
A new zoanthid colony (Zoanthus mantoni) was added at the beginning of the month, and a new mystery juvenile Maldivian clownfish (Amphiprion nigripes) has appeared! The giant fluted clam (Tridacna squamosal) was removed, as it was growing very large and remained unattached to the substrate (presenting a hazard to other occupants).
Our mini coral frame of 26 fragments now has 21 fragments encrusted over their zip ties plus 1 fragment still to encrust (5 fragments show some dead tissue). The 4 fully dead fragments have now been replaced with other Acropora species.
Small Aquarium Two
The Clark’s anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkia) have laid eggs again twice this month, which we have harvested to observe under the microscope. For the first two days, the eggs show little development in situ, maintaining the homogenous yellow colour of the yolk sac. By Day 4, the eggs had visible muscular contractions and heartbeat, which was previously not observed until Day 5, and indicates that the eggs undergo rapid non-linear development between Days 3 to 4. In the aquarium, some eggs appear to hatch by Day 7 or Day 8, when the larvae either get eaten or swept into the outflow, so they cannot mature.
Our mini coral frame now has 12 fragments encrusted over the zip tie; 1 fragment is partially bleached and 1 fragment is dead. In general, the fragments appear to have a similar success rate in both the aquarium and out in the lagoon (albeit with a very small sample size of just 2 mini frames). This is surprising, considering the aquarium mini frame has fewer obvious limitations to growth compared to the lagoon (for example: sedimentation, predation, breakage from wave action).
Linckia multifora sea stars
SS1 (large specimen) – appears to have lost an 8mm portion of one arm. This could be part of the sequential loss of parent arms for asexual reproduction, commonly seen in this genus and previously observed by our team. It is, however, typically the largest arm that autotomises, resulting in loss of the whole of the arm (Crawford 2007). So in this instance, the missing arm portion may have been predated by another individual in the aquarium (perhaps the mantis shrimp).
SS3 (large specimen) – slight decrease in average arm length this month of 0.2mm. With continued decrease in growth rates the past few months, this now puts SS3 at the same average arm length as October 2019 when it was 32.8mm. It could be that growth rates are stagnating as the sea star reaches its maximum size, and may indicate that it will soon donate a new arm.
SS4 (autotomised arm) – average increase of 1.2mm this month, and although the parent arm again decreased in size by 2mm, it continues to differentiate its new arms into the ‘comet-phase’.
School Visits
As part of the Manta Trust’s “Ocean School” awareness program, our Landaa team had the pleasure of welcoming the lovely students from Kamadhoo school. The 25 students spent the afternoon at our turtle rescue centre, learning about our marine conservation programmes, and had an interesting hands-on experience transplanting their own coral frame.

REEFSCAPERS Coral Propagation Program
During February at Landaa Giraavaru, 24 new coral frames were transplanted (13 sponsored by guests, 11 sponsored by Four Seasons) plus a further 434 frames were monitored, mainly at the Blu site (cleaning, re-transplanting and photographing them).
At Kuda Huraa this month, we transplanted 14 new coral frames, and monitored a further 45 frames. In anticipation of the seasonally warmer ocean temperatures, we have started to move frames to deeper waters and to set up shading for vulnerable frames.
Read our 2020 Diary for details on how we are working to protect our corals from the upcoming seasonal warm ocean temperatures, which peak during March -May.


Online Database of Maldivian Corals
Our Maldivian Corals Database is now live, detailing 26 coral species that are common to the Maldives. We have uploaded data and photographs for new species of Acropora, Heliopora and Porites, and plan to expand the information over time.
Sea Turtle Conservation

Hazma’s art exhibition to mark our 10-year turtle anniversary. Read our special report for all the details.
Rescue & Rehabilitation
2020 marks the 10-year anniversary of our turtle rescue and rehabilitation work! 💚 Read our special report for all the details.
At Landaa during February, we admitted 5 new rescue turtles and hit our peak holding capacity, simultaneously housing 10 Olive Ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) and 1 Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate). Due to mild injuries and quick recoveries, we were able to release 2 of the new turtles soon after rescue (Lenny & Conna).
As at the end of February, our Hatchling Rehabilitation Program at Kuda Huraa was housing 5 Hawksbills and 3 Green turtles (Chelonia mydas).
Sea Turtle Adoption
We hope to start our turtle adoption scheme in the coming weeks. Resort guests will be able to adopt one of our turtle patients, with the sponsorship funds contributing towards future turtle conservation efforts. Sponsors will be able to view regular photo updates right here on our Marine Savers website, and follow the health updates of our hatchlings and rescue turtles. From our online database, you can now view our health-check photographs along with a growth chart for some of our hatchlings and rescue turtles (pages functioning, but under development).
Sea Turtle Enclosure
On 28 February, we performed a deep clean of the netting of our large turtle enclosure out in the lagoon at Landaa (large photo, very bottom of this page).
Throughout February, both Chomper and Frisbee have spent much of the month in our ocean enclosure. Chomper has started to show some diving and resting behaviours during this period, but interestingly only when alone in the enclosure.

Maldivian Sea Turtle Identification Program
Turtle photographs are kindly sent to us from members of the public, fellow marine biologists and dive centres stationed at other resorts around the Maldives. Submissions consist of close-up photographs of the turtle facial profile, enabling us to outline the unique pattern of scales (scutes) that act like a human fingerprint.
During February, we received 42 new photo submission sets towards our national turtle ID project.
Our current database now details the positive individual sightings of: 1220 Hawksbills, 215 Greens and 56 Olive Ridleys, with more than 4,600 separate sightings.
Spotted a turtle? Share your photos

PHOTO: Hawksbill turtle EI1167
Further News & Updates
You might also be interested in our Dolphin ID Project, and our Sea Turtle Enclosure out in the lagoon at Landaa.
Looking for details of our coral propagation programme ?
Head over to our Reefscapers 2019 Diary for all the latest updates.
You can sponsor your own dedicated Coral Frame, and then see how it grows in the future by viewing the photo updates every 6 months, as part of our Coral Frame Collection.
Photos: (1) Reefscapers coral frames at Kuda Huraa water villas.
(2) Junior Marine Savers learn the importance of corals.


Our Sea Turtle Enclosure out in the lagoon at Landaaa