Flame Angel Pair?

[pcon]

Bi-Directional sexchange is certianly possible in centropyge. I strongly doubted it until @Claus84 Posted this article http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.2108/zsj.20.627

Though This keeps me from trying it at home:
"The larger dominant male suddenly died on June 15 after severe chasing between the males, though there were no apparent injuries on its body... ...The larger male suddenly died on September 26 (21 days after the start). This pattern of the larger male dying continued... ...In all three other large males (101–106 mm in TL, n=3) subsequently died on September 30, October 10 and 27"

 

[ca1ore]

So, this is interesting. Sure looks like the beginnings of courting behaviour ....



Mostly at around the 43 second mark. All my fish go a bit nuts as the lights go down.

 

[OrionN]

That is spawn behavior to me. You cut out just as the angels look like they are spawning.

 

[OrionN]

Not only at 43 sec, the whole video show that the two Flame angels are courting. At 43 seconds is a false run. Right at the end
there could be an actual spawn.
It seem you gave up too early. Observe closer, often my pair will actually spawn as the light really go out, and it is difficult to take the video due to lack of light.

The male swimming around and around in full display then he move in just behind and below the female. As they swim together they actually will spawn. Squirt of sperm and eggs can be seen. They will then go right into the rock structure for the night. The day they actually spawn can be predict when you see the female full of eggs.

There is now a scientific paper document the sex change of these angels from male to female.

 

[ca1ore]

I just figured they could use a bit of privacy .....

 

[ca1ore]

Pair have settled in nicely. I still think they both look like males, though apparent spawning behavior would seem to belie that. Regardless, cool to have two in one tank.

 

[ca1ore]

Interestingly, the one flame that behaves like the female has begun to swell appreciably in the lower abdomen - exactly how my female clownfish does right before she lays down her eggs. Will have to see if I can spot any evidence of spawning over the next few days.

 

[OrionN]

 

[Jesterrace]

Very nice. If any of the spawn make it you could have a nice payday. Captive Bred Flames sure aren't cheap.

 

[ca1ore]

Have a trio of small females in QT (my very grubby QT) with hopes of a harem in the big tank. Been in QT for a couple of weeks now without any sign of disease so fingers crosssed.

 

[mandarin417]

 

[OrionN]

I recently pay attention and increase my light during spawning and got some picture of the nuptial picture of male Flame Angel.
Normal coloration of my male Flame angel

Nuptialcoloration of the same angel days apart

 

[OrionN]

BTW, once the angels go into spawn ritual, if you increase the light intensity, they just go on and finish spawning. A lot of my spawn pictures, I increased my light and use the increase light to take picture or video.