Article Egg-Laying Behaviors

Egg-Laying Behaviors

Fish display a wdie range of egg-laying behavior, reflecting the way in which they have adapted to a variety of environments. Even related species may have very different egg-laying habits. For example, many anabantoids inhabit calm waters and build bubble-nests for their eggs. Some anabantoids, however, have changed to mouth-brooding in order to exploit more turbulent waters that woudl destroy bubble-nests.

Behavior:Egg Scattering.
Description:The female releases a large number of eggs at random, some which stick to plant leaves, while others become lodged in the substrate. The fish become increasingly active prior to spawning with the males pursuing the females vigorously. The fish show no parental care, and may eat their own eggs and any fry that hatch.
Typical Examples:Egg-scatters include cyprinids, such as barbs, danios, and rasboras, as well as tetras and many other characoids.

Behavior:Egg-depositing.
Description:Egg-depositors often form pair bonds. A pair will carefully choose a safe, clean spawning site where they can lay their eggs. This may be a rock, the underside of a leaf, or even a cave. After spawning, the fish stay in the vicinity of their chosen site, driving off other fish that come too close to the eggs. They also jealously guard their fry.
Typical Examples:Discus, angelfish, and various other cichlids. A number of catfish, such as bristlenoses and loricariids, also reproduce this way.

Behavior:Egg-burying.
Description:This behavior is shown by species dwelling in muddy pools that dry up each year. After the water has evaporated, the eggs lie dormant in the dried mud and hatch when the rain returns. The fish must develop rapidly and spawn again before the dry season begins.
Typical Examples:Annual killifish, such as nothobranch group, and Argentine Pearl Fish.

Behavior:Mouth-brooding.
Description:One of the parent fish takes the eggs into its mouth and retains them there until they hatch. This behavior keeps the eggs out of sight of predators in open habitats, and also helps to prevent them from being swept away by strong currents.
Typical Examples:Various cichlids, including many African Rift Valley species, as well as anabantoids that occur in fast-flowing water, and some catfish.

Behavior:Bubble-nesting.
Description:The nest is made of mucus bubbles blown at the surface by the male, and may be anchored to plants. It holds the eggs, and later the fry, together in one place where they can be closely guarded. The male often drives the female away after spawning and keeps watch alone.
Typical Examples:Some anabantoids, including Siames Fighting Fish and Pearl Gouramis. Hoplos catfish also exhibit bubble-nesting behavior.
>The best-known bubble-nester is the Siamese Fighting Fish. The eggs hatch about 48 hours after being laid. The male guards the fry until they are free-swimming.

 

Thank You Dan, glad ya liked it!

 

<--nope, don't copy and paste. Haha!
Some of them are re-types from Aquatic books that I read.

 

Thank You Dan, mighty kind of you.