Can anybody describe Mandarin spawing behavior?

[JennM]

Hi all,

I've got a pair of Green Mandarinfish (Synchiropus splendidus). I have had the female for over a year and the male for almost a year. I've got them in one of my coral display tanks (110 g, 350 g system total, with 90-g fuge). They are fat and sassy and their tank is pods o'plenty...

They are both very shy and the tank crowded with rocks/racks (only 2 other fish in the whole tank, a Copperband for Aiptasia and a Rabbitfish for algae!) so I don't see a whole lot of them but they show themselves every once in a while. The male and female are never too far apart.

On Saturday I was working in the tank and I noticed the male sitting in a hidey hole in one of the rocks. I have removed some of the rock from the tank but left "his" rock there. He is still there, 3 days later! I have seen him leave the hole briefly, I have seen the female in the hole briefly but for the most part, the male is happy to be spending most of his time in this little depression in the rock. The female is never far away.

Could this be tending eggs? I don't have a snowball's chance of rearing the fry, but it would be really neat if that's what is going on there...

And if it's not, I don't know why he suddenly has become a couch potato

Any thoughts and/or experiences would be appreciated.

Cheers,
Jenn

[Geoff]

odd behavior. they are broadcast spawners.this is a watered down article i found. it gives you the basics.

G~

[JennM]

Hmmm interesting article -- however I wonder if his being in the "hidey hole" is akin to his claiming a "street corner" such as the article mentioned?

It's odd behavior to say the least, and he may have done it before and I never noticed. Can't say for sure. He doesn't look distressed and he's fat and sassy Perhaps he's just lazy?

Jenn

[mapster]

The new issue of Coral magazine has a right up on Mandarin fish. A quick description of their spawning behaviour is included.

I think I remember you get this mag at your shop, is why I brought it up.

[JennM]

Thanks! I got my copy in the mail the other day, I skimmed the articles but I will go looking for that one!

Jenn

[TerryB10]

I have kept a few spawning pairs over the years. After the lights are dim the pair circle around one another in a dance as they move toward the surface of the water. This is usually repeated several times. You can tell when the female is full of eggs because they bulge.
Terry B

[JennM]

Well it's not spawning then... perhaps he just likes that spot... he was out and about yesterday, but when I looked again, he was back in the rock

The female is never far away, but she's more outgoing.

Jenn