Mandarin: Fat or pregnant?

[RoxannaBanana]

I'm going to start by saying I bought these fish, with plenty of research, so I got the captive bred ones that eat frozen, and BOY do they scarf down. The male has always been a little bit of a piggy, but the female only recently started eating everything in sight. I've always supplemented with pods, but they really enjoy the bloodworms and mysis. The male almost doubled in size in a month or two, but the female stayed somewhat petite, but I'm confused about her sudden voracious appetite. I don't know if the belly is from her sudden appetite change, or maybe a pregnancy????... Which would be sweet bc that's what I'm REALLY hoping for even though I know it's difficult. Plus, she's still fairly juvenile, so I don't know. I haven't caught them in a mating ritual, but I know mandarins do that at night, and I do have a set sunrise/sunset profile for the tank, so who knows. What do you guys think of her physique? Fat or pregnant?

 

[RoxannaBanana]

I'm only replying to my own post so I can post a second picture.

So, back to my original question-- pregnant???? ::crossing fingers::

 

[eastlake]

assuming she a girl, kind of hard to see the full dorsal fin in the picture, I'd say she has several buns in the oven.

 

[MondoBongo]

appears gravid.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

assuming she a girl, kind of hard to see the full dorsal fin in the picture, I'd say she has several buns in the oven.

yes, the photo is of chichi (my female). My male has the pointed dorsal. ;-)

 

[RoxannaBanana]

appears gravid.

oooooo, I hope so! I need to pay better attention to them at night to snap up those eggs!!

 

[lafanblue]

Man.. that is pretty cool hope all goes well.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

Man.. that is pretty cool hope all goes well.

Thanks, I hope so, too! At first I thought she just ate too much, but her form is starting to take a marble shape, so I figured I'd bounce it to the experts.

 

[MondoBongo]

oooooo, I hope so! I need to pay better attention to them at night to snap up those eggs!!

good luck!

i've been curious to try breeding mine and rearing the fry but have been too nervous to try to introduce a male to my female, given how well she has done and how long she's been with me.

 

[snorvich]

oooooo, I hope so! I need to pay better attention to them at night to snap up those eggs!!

If that is the case, they mate at dusk. Snapping the eggs is not trivial.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

If that is the case, they mate at dusk. Snapping the eggs is not trivial.

You speak the truth for sure... I've watched videos after videos... I really have to be there at the right time. Those eggs look pretty hard to get.... But if my chichi is really pregnant, I'm going to try to rear those eggs. But if I miss it... Dagnabbit. My boyfriend will be solely taking care of the tanks next week, and I'll be on business travel, so I hope it's not soon.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

good luck!

i've been curious to try breeding mine and rearing the fry but have been too nervous to try to introduce a male to my female, given how well she has done and how long she's been with me.

You think he might get too aggressive? I think I've only read the males will tear each other apart, but otherwise it's fine. I also read the females get attracted to larger males. My male and female basically ignore each other all day, which I heard was normal... When they do cross paths, it seems fairly uneventful. One of them normally just swims away so they can hunt uninterrupted. They don't attack each other or anything, though.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

good luck!

i've been curious to try breeding mine and rearing the fry but have been too nervous to try to introduce a male to my female, given how well she has done and how long she's been with me.

We have a lot in common, I have your exact Current Tank Info: setup.

 

[MondoBongo]

You think he might get too aggressive? I think I've only read the males will tear each other apart, but otherwise it's fine. I also read the females get attracted to larger males. My male and female basically ignore each other all day, which I heard was normal... When they do cross paths, it seems fairly uneventful. One of them normally just swims away so they can hunt uninterrupted. They don't attack each other or anything, though.

Him or her. I'm always loathe to upset the apple cart when I have something going that has been working.

Mine is also my better half's favorite fish in the system. So I have to take extra precautions.

 

[RoxannaBanana]

Him or her. I'm always loathe to upset the apple cart when I have something going that has been working.

Mine is also my better half's favorite fish in the system. So I have to take extra precautions.

Oh, I hear that! I've learned nothing is really ever predictable in reef keeping. If you got a good thing going, no need to press your luck.