firefish possibly breeding
- Thread starter jc286006
- Start date
I had a pair of N. helfrichi that spawned. The male would try to entice the female to a spawning area by darting around and extending his fins to attract her attention. Then try to get her to follow him. They liked to lay their eggs inside a 1/2 or 3/4 inch pvc T. the eggs were usually on the top or side of the inside of the T and the male would sit in the T facing out. If your male stays in a hole for 3 to 4 days they may have spawned and he may be with the eggs.
Karen
Karen
Your post reminded me of a conversation I had a few years ago on this subject. Hopefully this will be of some use to you.
I can give you some info... it relates to the Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora), however I'm sure the same applies to Orange Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica).
The reference is below:
Schiller, Guenter, Spawning Behavior of the Decorated Firefish, 1990, SeaScope, Volume 7, Fall 1990. Aquarium Systems, Mentor, OH, 44060, ISSN 1045-3520.
In the above article, the author references his experience with N. magnifica too (see "Fish Views and News, January 1977, Desert Aquatist Society).
SeaScope is thankfully available online, so you can access the article under the Breeding/Propagation header:
http://www.instantocean.com/Ocean-of-Knowledge/SeaScope/SeaScope-Index-by-Subject.aspx
How you'll get a hold of the other reference from 1977 is beyond me!
Finally, a bit to follow up on N. decora breeding reports:
http://aquadaily.com/2009/02/09/purple-firefish-faq/
Best of luck and please give an update!
ChemLife
I can give you some info... it relates to the Purple Firefish (Nemateleotris decora), however I'm sure the same applies to Orange Firefish (Nemateleotris magnifica).
The reference is below:
Schiller, Guenter, Spawning Behavior of the Decorated Firefish, 1990, SeaScope, Volume 7, Fall 1990. Aquarium Systems, Mentor, OH, 44060, ISSN 1045-3520.
In the above article, the author references his experience with N. magnifica too (see "Fish Views and News, January 1977, Desert Aquatist Society).
SeaScope is thankfully available online, so you can access the article under the Breeding/Propagation header:
http://www.instantocean.com/Ocean-of-Knowledge/SeaScope/SeaScope-Index-by-Subject.aspx
How you'll get a hold of the other reference from 1977 is beyond me!
Finally, a bit to follow up on N. decora breeding reports:
http://aquadaily.com/2009/02/09/purple-firefish-faq/
Best of luck and please give an update!
ChemLife
I posted this a couple years ago in this thread : http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1911698
I am pretty sure that this was a spawning pair. I think the near one was female, she would develop an extended abdomen as in the picture, then would disappear into their burrow for days at a time. He would stand guard at the burrow entrance while she was in it. After a week or so of her not being out much at all she would suddenly be out as normal for a while till this behavior would restart. I never saw any eggs or fry, and I didn't see anything that would distinguish between them most of the time.
This picture was taken just after the other one. She is peeking out of the burrow in the lower right corner, and he is on guard duty.
I am pretty sure that this was a spawning pair. I think the near one was female, she would develop an extended abdomen as in the picture, then would disappear into their burrow for days at a time. He would stand guard at the burrow entrance while she was in it. After a week or so of her not being out much at all she would suddenly be out as normal for a while till this behavior would restart. I never saw any eggs or fry, and I didn't see anything that would distinguish between them most of the time.
This picture was taken just after the other one. She is peeking out of the burrow in the lower right corner, and he is on guard duty.
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