Species that "pair for life"

[baldwinaquaman]

Let's talk about different fishes which are known to pair for life. Please list the fish, a pic. if you have one captive or wild, and any facts you may know about it.

We always here "there are a lot of fish in the sea", well let's see the fish that just don't buy that.

 

[saix88]

Kind of hard to answer since we don't really know the life span of any of these fish. Most people can't keep their fish for longer than 2 years.

 

[snorvich]

I do not believe that fish in the wild "mate for life" because there is a disincentive for them to do so. In the aquarium, with little choice of mates, that may be so by inference. For example, clownfish will mate "for life" in an aquarium and kill any intruders. But in nature if one dies, one of the unsexually differentiated juveniles will replace it.

 

[SDguy]

I assume the question implies "unless one dies"...

As opposed to fish that live in harems? As opposed to fish hat find a new partner every time they mate?

So, actually, I think clownfish is a good example to fit the bill.

Many butterfly fish definitely qualify too.

 

[snorvich]

Many butterfly fish definitely qualify too.

In the wild, that is true. Also, some angelfish.

 

[JamesJR]

I have read that many pair bonds between angels and butterflies aren't necessarily life long but seasonal. Don't recall where it was though and I could be wrong.

 

[WuHT]

there was some paper done comparing how grey angels live in a group, while french angels paired off.

 

[baldwinaquaman]

Guys don't over anylyze this, it's a simple question, like SD said if you can't disect it yourself. I know there are some butterflies, and I also suspected angels. can anyone briong some specifics to this. I also had the triggers as suspect such as bluethroat, maybe pinktails>?

 

[SDguy]

I think most angels live in harems... I've seen video of blue face angels in pairs though.

Honestly, most butterflies are often found in pairs, or groups. But pairs, especially for the coral polyp eating species.

I've seen video of pairs of powder blue tangs...not sure how long that lasts though.

 

[baldwinaquaman]

yeah i've seen the powder blues in pairs a lot, even at public aquariums