Orchid Dottyback About to Burst!

[curator]

I've had two orchid dottybacks for more than a year - and never had any idea what their sex was. Today, I noticed that one has a BIG belly, and am assuming she's about to spawn. I guess there's nothing much I can do at this point...right? I'd imagine it takes much experience and preparation to try to raise the young. Is this correct?


Thanks,

John

 

[derek_s]

You might contact BOBZ. He is breeding/preparing to breed several species, and I think dottybacks may be one of them. It may be too late to prepare for this batch, but maybe the next one, or maybe he can collect the hatchlings?

 

[bobz]

Matt Wittenrich's book has a ton of detail about spawning and raising Pseudochromis species. I have a pair in a breeding tank but they have not yet spawned. Once they start spawning, you can probably expect them to keep it up every 7 to 10 days according to Matt. The challenge is getting them past metamorphsis and keeping them fed. You'll need rotifers and green water would help for the first 9 days, then newly hatched Artemia. If you want to borrow my copy, let me know! Ialso have some phyto and rotifers going if you want any.
Bob

 

[bobz]

By the way, according to Matt's book, any two sexually immature juveniles will ultimately form a male-female pair through female to male sex change. (Unless they kill each other first... my comment!)
Bob