Blue Jaw (Xanthichthys auromarginatus) Trigger Pair Spawn

[flameangel88]

I was tied up in the afternoon working on couple of things but kept hearing splash in one of the tank. I didn't get around to it till feeding time and all I was worrying at the time was looking on the floor for water. I didn't see any went ahead to turn the actinics on what I saw I couldn't get my camera fast enough.

The camera captured about 8 minutes (9:32pm to 9:40pm) and they were still going strong. I'm embarrassed to post these pictures with the dirty glass (front and back) but felt it was interesting to see a pair less than 4" to start courtship this early..

First picture captured at 9:32pm

 

[flameangel88]

 

[flameangel88]

at 9:40pm

 

[trigger:)]

Wow! Thats a treat!!

 

[AuroraDrvr]

I'm a bit curious to this, as both triggers are males. I'm wondering if it's actually mating, just courtship, or more likely, IMHO, two males displaying, to prove dominance.

Eitherway, a cool thing to see!

 

[flameangel88]

I'm a bit curious to this, as both triggers are males. I'm wondering if it's actually mating, just courtship, or more likely, IMHO, two males displaying, to prove dominance.

Eitherway, a cool thing to see!

Thank you...courtship is the better term here. Tried changing the title but doesn't seem like I'm allowed to after posting.

Someone also mentioned that this was 2 males couple of months ago and if I remember right it was a month after I received the pair.

I received the pair from LA on 9/10 and it was listed with their size as 3.25-3.5" and this was their picture

The female is showing some yellow around the fins but not as bright as the male. If the female is transitioning to male will the dominant male try to kill the weaker one? If that's the case then I will have to separate them. I would like to hear more opinions on this.

Thanks!

 

[R.W.]

To me, it looks like the female is transitioning

 

[tcmfish]

Crayz (<< don't you like how you can spell that word two ways and theoretically it would be pronounced the same :lol, but I have to agree that it must be some sort of display. Were any gametes released? Because I have always thought these fish were demersal spawners. I have heard reports of crosshatches spawning on rocks or substrate and defending the nest, which is a close relative and other triggers dig pits and lay eggs. So I highly doubt they were spawning.

 

[flameangel88]

This was taken 6 days after receiving the pair (9/16)
male

female

With triggers any chance of a male revert back to female?

 

[AuroraDrvr]

In the grand scheme of things, the original male will likely not mind the newly-turned male. Bluejaws are so docile, I would doubt any serious harm would come out of keeping two males housed in the same tank. Just keep a watch for any aggression, and separate as need be.

Bluejaw triggers are also demersal spawners, and build nests, rather than broadcast spawn like tangs and angelfish.

 

[flameangel88]

Crayz (<< don't you like how you can spell that word two ways and theoretically it would be pronounced the same :lol, but I have to agree that it must be some sort of display. Were any gametes released? Because I have always thought these fish were demersal spawners. I have heard reports of crosshatches spawning on rocks or substrate and defending the nest, which is a close relative and other triggers dig pits and lay eggs. So I highly doubt they were spawning.

I agree that courtship was the correct term to use here and I was too excited at the time of posting. :lol2:

No I didn't see any release as I was too busy working on getting focus as it was too dark to get quick focus. Tomorrow night I'll work on putting up some portrait lights for the photoshoot. LOL

This is my only trigger pair and really didn't know what to expect and definitely not expecting courtship from a pair this young.

I'm out of tanks so not looking forward to purchasing two more females to form pairs at the moment. But I'm sure I can trade one in at the lfs for a female if I see any aggression between the two.

 

[flameangel88]

In the grand scheme of things, the original male will likely not mind the newly-turned male. Bluejaws are so docile, I would doubt any serious harm would come out of keeping two males housed in the same tank. Just keep a watch for any aggression, and separate as need be.

Bluejaw triggers are also demersal spawners, and build nests, rather than broadcast spawn like tangs and angelfish.

Thanks for the info and a relief to hear the possibility of two males able to co-exist. I know first hand experience that this will not be the case for 2 female Crosshatch as one will try to kill the other one.

 

[tcmfish]

Since these fish get much larger than yours, the original male at that size was not dominant so the original female turned to a male. If your fish grow there will probably be some aggression, but if you keep one male and introduce a smaller female once the male is larger I bet you could establish a pair.

 

[Wolverine]

Since these fish get much larger than yours, the original male at that size was not dominant so the original female turned to a male.

In the grand scheme of things, the original male will likely not mind the newly-turned male.

To me, it looks like the female is transitioning

All the evidence we have now has the Xanthichthys triggers as being dioecious. Males are males, females are females. Some males will have female coloration, but they were always males. Unless there's been some new update in their biology that I don't know about (certainly not out of the question), they don't change.

 

[rachenbrazil]

I had a female blue jaw for almost a year , them add 2 months ago a larger male, already with greener color and blue jaw markings. Last month my female colors changes, the fin trim changed from red/brown to yellow and blue jaw marks start to appear. They are fine together but now my pair idea seems to be gone...

hope that maybe smaller one would revert to female again...but it may not be true... at least they are doing fine together ... smaller one have 3 in and big male is 4.5 inches.

 

[biger]

I have to agree with Wolverine.
As far as I know Xanthichthys triggers don't change sex.. may be it was juvenile colored, and just changing into its determinate sex.

 

[flameangel88]

If this is the case then would it be correct to say Liveaquaria put 2 Blue jaws together with one that's a male the other 'appears' to be a female while in their QT. The two got alone fine and LA puts these two on Diver's Den for sale as a pair?

 

[Bax]

Very cool pics flameangel88

 

[Wolverine]

If this is the case then would it be correct to say Liveaquaria put 2 Blue jaws together with one that's a male the other 'appears' to be a female while in their QT. The two got alone fine and LA puts these two on Diver's Den for sale as a pair?

Yep, that's what it looks like, unless they've learned something new about the biology of this genus that I haven't been able to find in the scientific literature.

 

[flameangel88]

Thanks for your reply.