Pregnant Six Line Wrasse

Some fish keep the yolk to live on for a few days but not all! I only know that about FW so I don't know about SW. Sorry about the babies but like you said next time you will be better prepared! Keep us informed!!

 

Thanks for the support. Losing all those little guys was tough, you feel so helpless.

On the bright side the pair continues to spawn. I am not sure how long this goes on before they take a rest but we may still be in the game - will keep all posted.

For the records, our tanks' day starts at 2:30 PM and ends about 9:00. The spawning usual occurs about 8:30.

 

Final video of spawning

Even among the fires, evacuations, power outages the Six Line Wrasse continue to spawn almost daily. They will circle and swim for about three hours before finally reaching the climax of the spawn. I have finally caught the final part on video (about 1.5 minutes) and have posted to this Utube link:

Six Line Wrasse complete a spawn.wmv

The spawn happens at about 1:30 in the video with both fish actually jumping out of the tank. Following the spawn the male Wrasse chases a Damsel to keep it from eating the eggs. Since the first collection of eggs I have not had much luck but will keep trying.

Be sure to click on high resolution for the best picture.

 

A quick update. They continue to spawn daily. Even during tank cleaning, reduced water etc. they go through the drill. The latest and almost success was during a spawn and they both jumped out of the water. There was a package of sperm in the water. It was about 3/8" in diameter. I captured it in a conical paint strainer and attached it to the side of the tank with a clothes pin. They continued their dance until the female spawned eggs. With another strainer I tried to out pace the Damsels, pretty tricky. I placed the egg strainer inside the other strainer hoping the sperm would migrate through - did not work.

This stuff is not practised experience so can only experiment and post the results. Luckily, they are still at it. I have been wanting to add more fish and corals but am reluctant that I might screw the whole thing up.

Anyway, hope others find this as fascinating as we do.

 

It is immensely fascinating! What a cool little science lab you have

 

Your tank is really clean. Not a spot of coralline algea anywhere!

 

The main topic is about these very cool fish spawning but your comment, I must answer. Please, not trying to insert a commercial here.

Well, the reason I got back into aquariums is a guy came to me with an idea. I am an inventor/engineer mainly medical devices. He had some thoughts on a better magnetic cleaner - thus we came up with the Mag-Flip distributed by the Mag-Float people. It is not perfect but it works.

YouTube - mag-flip medium edit_0001.wmv

Thanks for your comments, the tank is now 6 months old.

 

Thats awesome! No other babies though huh? Thats still really cool. I'm excited! If you could start breeding six lines I think you could make a lot of money!

 

Please continue to keep us updated!

 

Actually, after breeding exotic birds for 38 years the potential money is not the cause. If we can help to keep these great fish from being plucked from their home, man that is so cool. Been there done that sort of thing. Please do not take this as a caustic comment, just as a possible solution, at least for these guys.