semper fi
mrs southeast michigan 2005
eggspots are found on the anal fin of the fish. you can guesstimate the sex of the fish, but not accruately determine the sex. if you see egg spots on a fish, it is a mouthbreeder. mouthbrooders are the only fish that will have eggspots on their anal fins. males usually have numerous egg spots. females can have egg spots. females carrying egg spots are called dummy egg spots. they will serve no purpose. egg spots do have a purpose though during spawning.
when a mouth brooder spawns the male will chose females to spawn with. he will dig a birthing pit to impress the females. he will flash himself to them, fight off other males and may even bully her into spawning. when the female is ready, her and the male will go to the birthing pit. the female will lay the eggs, a few at a time, and the male will fertilize them. the female will swim directly behind the male picking up the eggs and sperm taking it into her mouth. the jaw of the female will become distended from the eggs. she will tumble the eggs and sperm in her mouth ensuring the eggs are fertilized. the eggs will remain in her mouth for about 3 weeks. any unfertile eggs will be spit out during this time. the fry will hatch, lose their egg sacs. when the fry are free swimming the female will release the fry. this act of release is referred to as "spit the fry".
the purpose of the egg spots on the male is for fertilization of the eggs. the egg spots resemble eggs of the female. when the male shimmies and releases sperm, the egg spots makes the female think she has more eggs and will scoop up the sperm. even though there are no eggs, this helps to ensure that all of the eggs she is holding are fertilized. how long this ritual lasts will be determined by the male. the female will keep scooping the sperm thinking she has missed eggs due to the egg spots.
when a mouth brooder spawns the male will chose females to spawn with. he will dig a birthing pit to impress the females. he will flash himself to them, fight off other males and may even bully her into spawning. when the female is ready, her and the male will go to the birthing pit. the female will lay the eggs, a few at a time, and the male will fertilize them. the female will swim directly behind the male picking up the eggs and sperm taking it into her mouth. the jaw of the female will become distended from the eggs. she will tumble the eggs and sperm in her mouth ensuring the eggs are fertilized. the eggs will remain in her mouth for about 3 weeks. any unfertile eggs will be spit out during this time. the fry will hatch, lose their egg sacs. when the fry are free swimming the female will release the fry. this act of release is referred to as "spit the fry".
the purpose of the egg spots on the male is for fertilization of the eggs. the egg spots resemble eggs of the female. when the male shimmies and releases sperm, the egg spots makes the female think she has more eggs and will scoop up the sperm. even though there are no eggs, this helps to ensure that all of the eggs she is holding are fertilized. how long this ritual lasts will be determined by the male. the female will keep scooping the sperm thinking she has missed eggs due to the egg spots.
