Watchman Goby eggs?

[Sea Serpent]

Hi there - I aquired a mated pair of yellow watchman gobies a few months ago and they have made a very nice cave in which to live. Because my tank is a penninsula, I can see into their cave from the side. The larger of the two (female?) seems to be "fanning" a mass of something. The mass is very peculiar - it is not attached to any surface, but has strings of a very soft, feathery, web-like, strands of . ... . . They don't look like eggs, but the fish are behaving in such a way as to be incubating. He/She is nudging, manipulating and fanning this mass. Very cool to watch.

I will try to get a picture but it is in a difficult angle. Does anyone have any experience with this?

Thanks,
Paula

 

[Luis A M]

They sure are eggs.Should be hanging from the roof of the cave.
You lucky girl!

 

[NicoleC]

The one tending the eggs is the male. Usually the male is the larger fish.

Here's a photo of my male with one of their first nests (still small them, they do get bigger with time):

If you are interested, here's a little light reading on the subject:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=684921

 

[Sea Serpent]

Wow - thanks for all the great information - and especially that link to the thread.
I will keep an eye on them but I am really not equiped to start a rotifer culture . . and rear the babies. It is just nice to see nature at its best -
I will still try to get a photo.

 

[NicoleC]

Enjoy your pair. They lay eggs about every 30 days once they get started. Be sure mama is getting well fed now!

 

[mwp]

Nicole, are you still trying to raise them? Any better success since your first lone ranger?

Matt

 

[NicoleC]

No, I have my hands full right now. Lad is growing, though. Slowly! But eventually he will grow up.