Need Scorpionfish breeding info

[uberfugu]

Has anyone breed scorpions? I am aware of Lionfish ejecting egg rafts but would like more info on the process.

I have two Ambon Scorpionfish in a 20 gal. The are the only inhabitants. The smaller is about 2-1/2" TL, the larger about 3". I found a pair of egg masses today floating at the top of the tank. They don't photo well because they're transparent. The weird stripes are from the venetian blinds/window in back of the tanks.

So, some things I want to know are: Do females eject rafts without a mate? Has anyone raised the young to maturity? Any references on the web?

Here are some pics of the rafts

Thanks in advance

Bryan

 

[perky]

Put them in a seperate tank with a sponge filter and plenty of light. Feed liquifry for the first day, then add plankton. When you can see the individual fish, add pods (Fish must be larger than the pods). As they get bigger, give them bigger food.

 

[IgorDI]

Do you have any nudibranches in your aquarium?

 

[uberfugu]

the scorpions are reasonably solo, their company consists of 1 small Clibanarius hermit, 1 rather menancing-looking, pinkish crab with red eyes (1-1/2"), a colony of collumbellid snails (1/2"max), and some Zoanthid colonies.

Crab has eaten all of the Astrea snails.

The egg masses were pretty large 1-1/2" to 2" in diameter. Not sure if there is an invertebrate in the tank that would produce a mass this size.

Really not prepared to try and raise fry yet but curious about whether the female will jettison the egg raft without a male (as in the case of Antennarius sp.) or if a male is needed to stimulate the female into the process.

I've heard of lionfish spawning in captivity... is there anyone out there actually raising fry past pelagic state (if they indeed go through this phase) ? I Checked Breeder's Registry but found little on Scorpaenidae.

Thanks

Bryan

 

[FMarini]

Uber-
looks like an egg mass for sure. I have seen this a number of times w/ my dwarf fuzzys breeding the egg mass resembles a "comb jelly" and its quite toxic.
Anyway assuming the ambons act like other scorpions, the female ejects the egg mass and the males will follow to the top for fertilzation. if you retain the egg mass in a well areated holding tank you'l be able to tell w/in a day or so if you have viable eggs. the eggs should float and they turn a color 9I don' recal i they turn white or dark,but they turn a color and then proceed to develop. You'll be able to figure it out soon. I have problems once the fry had hatched, I for the life of me couldn't get the planktonic fry to eat or settle. Both strains of Rotifers were too big, i would loose everything aroun day 8,9, and 10.
Would you mind if i could get bigger photos from you of the fish and the egg rafts?
Thanks
frank

 

[techigirl78]

Do you know how to tell the sex of these fish? I thought I saw somewhere indicate that you could differentiate, but can't find it. My ambon seems to be doing good and now I see liveaquaria has another. Just thought it would be nice to get him/her a mate.

 

[FMarini]

yes--ambons scorpions are sexable, you'll like this one,
--males have more tassles and a bigger head.
Actually its easy if you've seen alot of ambons, females have only a few tassles