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Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 5/9/2008 1:35:17 PM
Posts: 21,
Visits: 30
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I'm very interested in exploring behavior and breeding of Dusky Jawfish.. The only problem is that everywhere I look only the Pearly, Blue-spot, and Tiger jawfish reproduction are discussed.
So first things first, I would need to sex the jawfish. I believe the one I currently have is male, due to his little ritualistic dancing that comprises of him hovering almost completely over his burrow, gaping his mouth, and waving his pectoral fins about (this usually takes place at dusk; obviously his internal clock knows what time it is, since the aquarium lights are still on). So is it possible to use my current male and seek out a female since he displays a desire for one? Or would I have better success starting with small, juvenile jawfish?
I'm also interested in what type of filtration I would need on the breeding tank so I wouldn't have to worry about the fry getting sucked anywhere. (and do adults eat their young once they're set out into the world?)
I realize I may not get many responses due to jawfish-breeding not being a very popular subject, however, any tips and information would be appreciated. If the breeding does not work, I would at least enjoy observing the behavior of the species in the same tank.
Thanks,
k.c.
"It bends like something that's very...bendy." --Dr. Paul Whitby
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Group: Moderators
Last Login: 2 days ago @ 3:59:24 PM
Posts: 500,
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KC--
AS you know i answered this over at another board since i saw it first there. I will just cut-n-paste here for others that are interested.
you might do a search for Martin Moe's thread on breeding yellow headed jaw fish. its been the only thread I'm aware of w/ success. Unfortunately there is very little useful breeding info on line, but a google search might pull up some.
So lets consider for the sake of arguement that Duskys breed similar to YHJF. (which of course we don't know), you'll have to isolate the male once he carrying eggs. The males only hold for a few days, til the larvae hatch and he release microscopic, errr planktonic fry into the water column.
Martin was successful by using "field collected" plankton. Unless you have access to wild plankton we'll have to work around it, I'm not sure what to tell you in regards to first foods. I suspect it will be copepod nauplii. Don't know what species, but you can start w/ commercially available ones first-- you might get lucky. Otherwise, i'd try anything and everything, from ciliates on up.
So let me ask- have you had any success w/ clownfish and/or psuedochromis? these are great starter fish to practice on, gather experience, and get successful and while Jawfish are a very worthwhile investment, they may be a bit more difficult for someone w/ less experience. However-we're all up for a challenge--right?
good luck
Frank
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"We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities disguised as insolvable problems."- John Gardner
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