Do cory catfish produce a lot of ammonia?

What does it mean when a female catfish chases a male?

This is a sign of a female catfish in a breeding state as males become more interested in her. Chasing occurs because the female releases pheromones that are very attractive to males.

What does it mean when a female catfish lays eggs?

In observing the female Catfish it’s easy to see how the creature comes to symbolize women’s liberation; once she lays her eggs, it’s the male’s duty to watch over them. The Hardhead Catfish takes the matter most seriously by far, hatching the eggs in his mouth!

Can blackfin goby fish change their gender?

Blackfin Goby Certain species of goby have developed the ability to change their sex, dependent on need. Though the transformation is typically from female to male (dictated by the death of the resident male), in some instances the tiny fish can transform in the opposite direction.

What animals can change their sex?

In animals. In these species, such as many species of coral reef fishes, sex change is a normal anatomical process. Clownfish, wrasses, moray eels, gobies and other fish species are known to change sex, including reproductive functions. A school of clownfish is always built into a hierarchy with a female fish at the top.

Can a clownfish change its gender?

Clownfish do. When a female dies, a male replaces her as the leader by changing his gender. As do moray eels, gobies, and wrasses. If the dominant female of a school of clownfish is killed or perishs through some other means, than the dominant male of the school will change sexes and become female.

How does a bluehead wrasse change from female to male?

Bluehead wrasse goes from female to male in 10 days, with changes to hormones and gene activity A dominant male bluehead wrasse, upper left, defends its spawning territory and a group of females, yellow, off the coast of Florida. If a predator happens to snatch up the lead male, the dominant female in the group will take up rank by becoming a male.

How does the bluehead wrasse defend its group?

The male bluehead wrasse defends his group of yellow females, one of whom has to step-up and take charge if he leaves. Kevin Bryant, Author provided The bluehead wrasse is a fish that lives in small social groups in coral reefs in the Caribbean.

What do bluehead wrasses eat in the ocean?

Bluehead wrasses are generalist foragers and eat a variety of prey. They are known to forage for small invertebrates and crustaceans on the reef surface, target individual zooplankton in the water above the reef surface, and clean the parasites off of larger species.

Is the wrasse fish a boy or a girl?

Like other species of transgender fish, the Wrasse is probably born with only part of its reproductive organs formed. The fish lives as a male or a female for a while, but an as-yet unknown trigger can cause a female’s initial organs to whither away and new, male ones to form.

Can a female fish turn back into a male?

In at least one species, the hawkfish found around southern Japan, the females can not only turn into males but also turn back into females again if circumstances require it. For one species of shrimp, there is no need to change back. It starts out male but becomes an hermaphrodite – a phenomenon known as protandric simultaneous hermaphroditism.

Why do fish have to wait so long to reproduce?

But this is where nature finds a limitation. While males of almost every species can produce sperm in very short order, the females, once impregnated, must wait until they give birth (or lay eggs) before they can reproduce again. For some fish common to coral reefs, evolution found an interesting solution.

Where do wrasses live in the ocean?

Most wrasses inhabit the tropical and subtropical waters of the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, though some species live in temperate waters: the Ballan wrasse is found as far north as Norway. Wrasses are usually found in shallow-water habitats such as coral reefs and rocky shores, where they live close to the substrate.

Where do bluehead fish live?

The bluehead is found in the western Atlantic Ocean from Florida (U.S.) to the Bahamas, Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and south to northern South America. It also occurs in Bermuda and is most abundant throughout the West Indies.

What aquariums do bluehead fairy wrasse do best in?

Bluehead Fairy Wrasse do best in reef aquariums and FOWLR aquariums containing plenty of live rock. They are generally prized for their unique coloration and active swimming style; as well as, their peaceful disposition. As with many Wrasse species the Bluehead Fairy Wrasse is known to be a jumper, thus the aquarium should be fully covered.

What is a bluehead wrasse?

The bluehead wrasse is a small-bodied wrasse that lives on coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea and its adjacent waters (Florida, Bermuda, and the Gulf of Mexico). As a result of its interesting mating system (discussed below), the bluehead wrasse is one of the best-studied reef fishes on Caribbean reefs.

Can fish change their sex naturally?

Nearly 500 fish species can naturally undergo sex changes if circumstances call for it. Now scientists have have taken a closer look at the biology that make this possible. Bluehead wrasse goes from female to male in 10 days, with changes to hormones and gene activity

Is the bluehead wrasse an endangered fish?

These fish are not endangered. The Bluehead Wrasse has the most notable coloration in the adult male phase. As the name suggests this mature male has a blue head followed by two black cross bands that are lighter in the center, and a blue-green body.

What is the behavioral behavior of a bluehead wrasse?

Behavior. Like many other wrasse species, the bluehead wrasse is a protogynous sequential hermaphrodite; individuals may begin life either as males or females, but females can change sex later in life and become males.

What causes bluehead wrasses to change sex?

Infected bluehead wrasses have been found to change sex earlier than uninfected females, possibly in response to the parasite. Thalassoma bifasciatum is widespread in the northwestern Atlantic region and is one of the most abundant species in coral reefs near Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Netherlands Antilles.

What fish have Blueheads in their stomachs?

Trumpetfish ( Aulostomus maculatus ), red hind ( Epinephelus gutatus ), greater soapfish ( Rypticus saponaceus ), and yellowfin grouper ( Mycteroperca venenosa) have been documented as containing blueheads in their stomach contents.

What do wrasses eat?

So it’s important to ask, What do Wrasses Eat? Wrasses are carnivorous, and eat a variety of meaty foods, including mysis shrimp, brine shrimp, blood worms, copepods, amphipods , and small invertebrates.

What do bluehead fairy wrasse eat?

The Bluehead Fairy Wrasse is a carnivore that should be fed a varied diet of high quality marine based meaty foods and preparations designed for marine carnivores. They will readily consume meaty flake, small pellet, frozen and freeze-dried foods.

How big does a wrasse fish get?

Native to the western Pacific, the species is very large for a gender-bending fish, growing up to a metre (3.2 ft) long and weighing as much as 14.7 kg (32 lbs). Like other species of transgender fish, the Wrasse is probably born with only part of its reproductive organs formed.