The world’s first successfully bred Harry hotlips are now on display as juveniles in the individual water tanks of the Coral Reef Gallery.

A juvenile Harry hotlips 

Place of exhibit

Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium “Small Life in the Coral Reef” corner.

Size of Exhibit

Three individuals　（length 4㎝）
*Exhibit may close depending on the condition of the animals.

Harry hotlips males locking lips

　The parent Harry hotlips were collected off the northern part of Okinawa Main Island in July 2018. At that time, the parents were around 2.5 cm in length. After rearing for seven years, they reached 40 cm in length, and were sexually mature. 
We were rearing two male and one female Harry hotlips. In March 2025, we observed the males locking lips. In the same year, we also confirmed that spawning took place.

　Harry hotlips hatchlings were translucent up to around 5 mm in length. By 6 mm in length, their bodies became dark brown, and their opercular (gill cover) spines had developed significantly.

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  Juvenile hatchling approximately 5ｍｍ

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  Juvenile hatchling approximately 6ｍｍ

　Through the successful breeding of the Harry hotlips, we gained more information about their breeding behavior, larval stages, and growth. These new insights are expected to advance hatchling production techniques and the aquaculture of this species. Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium aims to advance our understanding of marine life through breeding research and contribute to commercial development.