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Elassoma female breeding color


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#1 Guest_Lori_*

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Posted 25 March 2013 - 02:33 PM

Hi there. I am brand new to NANFA and joined because I am considering using Elassoma sp. for my research. I study fish mating behavior, specifically female breeding signals. It appears (from photos and videos) that some female Elassoma show subtle color development as spawning approaches. In particular, I am interested in examining the development of orange, red, yellow colors (often associated with the maturation of eggs, but not always).

If you have seen such color development on any of the female Elassoma sp. and have photos or video, I would love to hear about it. Also, I live in the northeast, would Elassoma sp. do okay here in the summer if kept in aquaria at ambient temperature? Thanks!

#2 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 25 March 2013 - 05:27 PM

Check out my gallery: http://gallery.nanfa.org/main.php?g2_controller=useralbum.UserAlbum&g2_authToken=e6c4d3c45091&g2_GALLERYSID=724ff63b925d7108648309fb43854a1e
youtube channel:


and topic: http://forum.nanfa.org/index.php/topic/10536-elassoma-gilberti/

Personally, I would not recommend pursuing female Elassoma color development as a topic. I did not notice dramatic orange, red, or yellow color changes in the females during my time keeping them. Females can gain or lose their brown spots, which seems to be mood based (fear makes them wash out and go clear, like when you scoop one up) but it's a pretty minute change, really. The one blatant color change I did see is that females can turn black like males and hold their own territory. This did not appear to be a spawning behavior, though. I think they were just old and big and wanted their own space. Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krjR06CfrlY That's a female in that video, chasing off another female from her anubias rock.


Edited by EricaWieser, 25 March 2013 - 05:36 PM.


#3 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 26 March 2013 - 09:33 AM

If there is any color change in females it is very subtle - I haven't really noticed any spawning-related color change other than full ovaries visible through the body wall (not really a pigment change, but certainly visible to males). I have never seen a female turn black, but I have seen them get slightly darker and defend a favorite spot from rival females. Temp range: they can tolerate from around 45F to 85F. For breeding, 65 to 80 is probably best -- may vary with species.

#4 Guest_Lori_*

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Posted 26 March 2013 - 06:57 PM

Erica: Thank you for the videos, they were helpful. I noticed a dark area on the side of the female, posterior to her ovaries. Is this color on the outside of the body or is it internal? The fact that females may display very subtle color cues during courtship is the topic of my research. Because female cues tend to be subtle they have been understudied in the past. However, we are finding evidence that these cues can play an important role in courtship.

Gerald: Thank you for your feedback. Which species are you referring to? When the ovaries are visible through the body wall, are they pigmented at all? maybe yellowish or orange? If they do have color, I am very interested in looking at that species.

#5 Guest_gerald_*

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Posted 26 March 2013 - 08:01 PM

Pale pinkish to yellowish ovaries, like most fish. Most of my experience is with gilberti, but I've seen similar color in zonatum, evergladei and boehlkei.

#6 Guest_EricaWieser_*

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Posted 26 March 2013 - 09:37 PM

I am also referring to Elassoma gilberti.

"I noticed a dark area on the side of the female, posterior to her ovaries. Is this color on the outside of the body or is it internal? "
If you're referring to youtube.com/watch?v=pMaxzV76MVs around 1:40, that dark spot is internal. It is probably intestine.

Here are some photos of females, just a few. There are dozens and dozens on my gallery. http://gallery.nanfa...odworm.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...er/216.JPG.html
http://gallery.nanfa...e crop.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...lberti.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...i crop.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...lberti.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...lberti.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...larger.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...ze_002.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...resize.jpg.html
http://gallery.nanfa...ze_001.jpg.html (diseased individual; the red was blood hemorrhaging)
http://gallery.nanfa...w home.jpg.html

Edited by EricaWieser, 26 March 2013 - 09:41 PM.





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