Doryrhamphus pessuliferus x D. dactyliophorus?

[jd474]

Anyone know if these guys will breed with eachother? We have single specimens of both, the yellow banded is carrying eggs, and they are always cruising around together.

 

[Elysia]

Well, it sounds as though one will accept eggs from the other, if you have had both of them alone and together for long. Did you ever have any other pipes in the tank that went missing and were never found? If not, then he is at least excepting eggs from her. Often, people don't get a chance to see the eggs hatch even when the eggs are viable, so your best bet would be to keep an eye on the male and see if you can ever notice any eyes develop in the eggs. Then at least you would know if the eggs were viable. I do not have any references here with me, but my guess is that the two would be more likely to be able to successfully breed if their ranges do not typically overlap in the wild.

 

[coralnut99]

That's an interesting question. I was going to go home and check the Kuiper book, but I don't recall it ever addressing hybrids at all. The timing of introduction into the tank should be the key if the male did in fact accept eggs from the female.

 

[jd474]

Thanks for the responses, guys! No, we haven't had any go missing, at least not for a long while. Initially there were pairs of both, but unfortunately only 1 of each made it. They have been in there for about a year now, and are doing very well. They are currently housed w/2 pair of D. excisus, ~20 gulf pipes, and other misc. horses/dragons, so I don't think they are from any of them. I will try to get some pics in the next couple of days, but they are pretty secretive, and it's a good sized tank.

 

[coralnut99]

OK, now that you've spilled the beans, you have to post pics, lol!

 

[namxas]

I don't doubt that pipe cogeners might interbreed...SH will do it fairly readily. We have a M reidi that mates with a F erectus every so often (maybe someday we'll try rearing the fry just to see what they look like).

 

[jd474]

Thanks, Greg. I guess we'll watch and wait. We have experience rearing a couple pipe species, but I'm guessing these will be more difficult.

 

[jd474]

Well, definitely viable:

about a dozen hatched today. :spin1:

 

[TwistedNerve]

Cool! How big are they?

 

[coralnut99]

That's just beyond awesome!!! How the heck did you catch them in a tank that big? They look a LOT like seahorse fry. I'm sure you can get lots of help from others in this forum.

 

[namxas]

Little threads with eyes! VERY cool. Actually they look to be of pretty decent size. What are you feeding them?

 

[jd474]

The male was removed from exhibit, to catch the fry - so easy enough. They are just a bit over 1 cm; which is bigger than I thought they would be. So far feeding rots, and 12 hr. artemia. We are hopeful for 1 or 2 to make it. Many didn't successfully hatch, and were stuck in the egg casings, but a couple look promising, at least.

 

[Elysia]

Any updates? What a success that the pipes decided to mate in the first place and then that some were viable. And that you took photos of the fry! Whatever the outcome, it is very interesting. Any chance he is carrying again?