Re: NANFA-- Columbus Zoo request

Bohlen (bohlen_at_iapg.cas.cz)
Thu, 4 May 2000 15:32:23 +0200

> Would pirate perch, assuming for the sake of argument that they are
mouthbrooders, attempt to brood eggs that are unfertilized?

> The aquarium experiment confirmed that pirate perch spawn fairly early in
the
year, from February to March

One female of pirate perch was releasing eggs three times in one of my
tanks, each time in end of December or beginning of January at 10-14°C. Each
year only one portion of eggs was released. This female obviously was
convinced that it is an early breeding species.

Unfortunately it killed the males just prior to first egg release, so eggs
were not fertilised.

What convinced me that the species is no internal breeder was the number and
size of the eggs. Some hundreds of eggs of several mm diameter makes a
volume of egg the female would not be able to hide in any of its body
chambers.

No nesting behaviour was observed by me, the eggs were scattered all over
the tank.

I would love to know the whole story of its breeding behaviour. Who has more
observations on the pirate perch?

Jorg

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