Dottyback babies everywhere!

[tah532]

Well i purchased a pair of orchid dottybacks about 2weeks ago and well they must definately be spawning cause last night dancing and swimming under my moonlight were hundreds of tiny baby orchids, I assume cause they look like very tiny minnows. Pretty cool looking though, just thought I'd share.

 

[Julio]

sweet, do you have any pics?

 

[ga_reefer_guy]

Congratulations

 

[AdidaKev]

Awesome! Any plans on separating them from the main tank?

 

[FMarini]

yes congrats..... whats your plans for the fry-- well beside making them tank food?

 

[tah532]

No pics, I am a bit techno. slow, sorry. They are sadly going to be tank food, wife wont go for a second tank! But I guess it is a natural food source for the rest of the fish.

 

[NexDog]

Nice, I'm jealous. I like this fish but had major problems with a Royal Dottyback once. But the Orchid is supposedly pretty peaceful. I could get a couple but would have to pair them myself. Anyone have any tips on pairing orchid dottybacks?

 

[tah532]

well i got mine thru inland aquatics here in Indiana, USA. They have a website InlandAquatics.com. Maybe you could email them, explain your situation of being so far away and they could then give you some tips on pairing Orchids. They are very knowledgeable about breeding fish.

 

[dchao]

Are you sure you were not just witnessing a spawning event of Polychaetes Worms?

These things are called "epitokes", they are segments of the worms , break off and swim to the surface to mass-reproduce. They also dance in the water in circle (just like what you have witnessed)

These events normally trigger by the moon, and normally happen around full-moon (which is 2/12).

 

[tah532]

Well doctor, you could be correct! Sorry to mislead anyone