My orchid dottyback is spawning too often

bandeng · 05/24/2006, 06:16 PM

I have a pair of dottybacks. I bought them last October. They started to spawn in the middle of December. They spawn almost every one week since the first. Is this normal for this species? I am worried about their health that they may not be having enough time to recover from the spawning and may die in a debilitated condition. So far, however, they are in good condition.

Fishboy42 · 05/24/2006, 06:27 PM

To Reef Central

I'll let the more experienced here fully answer your question, but I know that dottys spawn fairly frequently. A friend's pair has spawned at least that often for him -- which has given us lots of opportunities to TRY to raise the larvae. As long as they are well-fed, I wouldn't think it would be a problem.

-Matt

mwp · 05/24/2006, 09:50 PM

Just keep pumpin' 'em full of quality food & nutrition and their bodies will do the rest. Granted, some of the experienced dottyback breeders here may say differently.

My ONLY concern with "overbreeding" comes from my experience with running the cichlid hatchery for a while...sometimes we'd "slow" the fish down (by separating them) as they'd otherwise breed themselves out within a year. Generally older fish are not as productive as fish in their prime, but you probably have at least a good year or two ahead of you, at least that'd be my hope! It seems that fish start out breeding, have some mishaps, finally get it right, production improves and then as "old age" sets in production drops dramatically. Only the experienced long-time dottyback breeders can tell you for sure when to expect that final collapse...I can only guess.

Now, if they were spawning DAILY like my mandarins, then I'd be worried

MP

ediaz · 05/25/2006, 08:54 AM

They'll be fine

that is the way they are, every 6-8 days is normal, won't hurt them.

Ed

David M · 05/25/2006, 10:30 AM

Mine have spawned every 6 or 7 days for longer than I can remember, more than a year at least.

bandeng · 05/25/2006, 06:31 PM

Thank you for all the kind advices. I feel easy now. I could only raise less than 100 juveniles of 3 cm TL in two months rearing. I was worried also the quality of the eggs caused by this short interval of their spawning. Another trouble with my rearing has been this frequent (weekly) supply of the hatched larvae. I often run out of rotifers.

Bandeng

05/24/2006, 06:16 PM	#1
bandeng Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western Japan Posts: 15	My orchid dottyback is spawning too often I have a pair of dottybacks. I bought them last October. They started to spawn in the middle of December. They spawn almost every one week since the first. Is this normal for this species? I am worried about their health that they may not be having enough time to recover from the spawning and may die in a debilitated condition. So far, however, they are in good condition.

05/24/2006, 06:27 PM	#2
Fishboy42 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East TN Posts: 1,338	*To Reef Central* I'll let the more experienced here fully answer your question, but I know that dottys spawn fairly frequently. A friend's pair has spawned at least that often for him -- which has given us lots of opportunities to TRY to raise the larvae. As long as they are well-fed, I wouldn't think it would be a problem. -Matt __________________ Weekends are overrated Current Tank Info: 144g Bowfront Reef

05/25/2006, 08:54 AM	#4
ediaz Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Grand Rapids MI Posts: 1,128	They'll be fine that is the way they are, every 6-8 days is normal, won't hurt them. Ed __________________ The Ediaz I'll just leave it blank

05/25/2006, 10:30 AM	#5
David M Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: San Diego ( La Mesa) Posts: 2,831	Mine have spawned every 6 or 7 days for longer than I can remember, more than a year at least. __________________ These are my rotifers. Without my rotifers I am nothing. Without me my rotifers are nothing. Current Tank Info: 125 Caribbean theme folr, 800 gallon breeding system w/ mostly clownfish.

05/24/2006, 09:50 PM	#3
mwp Moved On Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,637	Just keep pumpin' 'em full of quality food & nutrition and their bodies will do the rest. Granted, some of the experienced dottyback breeders here may say differently. My ONLY concern with "overbreeding" comes from my experience with running the cichlid hatchery for a while...sometimes we'd "slow" the fish down (by separating them) as they'd otherwise breed themselves out within a year. Generally older fish are not as productive as fish in their prime, but you probably have at least a good year or two ahead of you, at least that'd be my hope! It seems that fish start out breeding, have some mishaps, finally get it right, production improves and then as "old age" sets in production drops dramatically. Only the experienced long-time dottyback breeders can tell you for sure when to expect that final collapse...I can only guess. Now, if they were spawning DAILY like my mandarins, then I'd be worried MP

05/25/2006, 06:31 PM	#6
bandeng Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Western Japan Posts: 15	Thank you for all the kind advices. I feel easy now. I could only raise less than 100 juveniles of 3 cm TL in two months rearing. I was worried also the quality of the eggs caused by this short interval of their spawning. Another trouble with my rearing has been this frequent (weekly) supply of the hatched larvae. I often run out of rotifers. Bandeng