We humans have taken advantage of animals to assist with our labors from donkeys to camels and dogs to moths since before 3000 BC. From riding animals such as asses and horses to using moths to create silk, humans have ruled over animals as laborers to suit our needs. That doesn’t even include the domestication of animals for food or as pets! So it might seem surprising to hear that animals do the same thing to other species of animals. I guess one could consider the life of a parasite as a good example. But I’m talking about an animal actually domesticating another species to help provide a food source through farming. Meet the farmer, longfin damselfish, and their domesticated friends, mysid shrimp. (1, 2)

Farmer Fish Domestication

Although we have seen animals using each other for food sources or even modes of travel, the idea of one animal domesticating another is new. In fact, this recent discovery by researchers in Australia is the first of its kind. Domestication between groups of animals. (2)

Researchers from Griffith and Deakin Universities discovered longfin damselfish use mysid shrimp to farm algae as a food source. They made the discovery on an expedition to the coral reefs in Belize. (2)

Farmer Fish And Shrimp

Longfin damselfish are actually thought of as “farming fish”. They grow algae for food. It is interesting to imagine any form of animal being so productive. However, not only are they productive as farmers, they also have formed a mutually supportive relationship with mysid shrimp. The shrimp provide fertilizer for the algae farms and are provided with a safe home in return. (2)

Lab Tests For Farmer Fish

Researchers confirmed this to be the case in lab tests at Carrie Bow Cay Research Station. The shrimp are not big fans of the smell of non-farming fish. As a result they are drawn to the damselfish. So not only do they assist in algae production, but also like to hang out around damselfish to avoid the smell of other fish.  (1,2)

Farmer Fish Protect Shrimp

This is considered a mutually beneficial arrangement as the damselfish protect the shrimp. During the lab tests researchers put the mysid shrimp in clear bags which they placed inside or outside the algae farm. If fish tried to eat the shrimp placed inside the algae farm, the damselfish came to their rescue. (2)

Farmer Fish Quality Algae

From the damselfish standpoint, the algae farmed by the mysid shrimp was of a higher quality. Tests showed it provides more health benefit for the damselfish compared to algae farms without the mysid shrimp farmers on the job. (2)

According to lead author of the study, William Feeney, the studies show it is indeed a mutualistic relationship. He also says the shrimp have all the signs of domestication compared to animals used to assist in farming by humans. (3)

Farmer Fish First Case

Feeney says this is the first time researchers found proof there is non-human vertebrate domestication of another species. This is also the first time experimental evidence showed how the domestication of mysid shrimps evolved. (3)