Banggai Mating Sequence

[Guy]

Hi Frank,

My camera caught my Banggai "in the act". Sorry to disappoint you but the "event" must have happened between shots. The camera was taking pics once a second so it must have happened really fast. I've posted the pic "before" and the following pic "after" and there are a couple of interesting observations.

1) In the before pic and in the previous frames the males second dorsal fin is up and after it is layed down more (and still is).

2) Both of my males have white highlighting on the front of the pectoral fins. Is this coincidence or are yours that way too?

Before:
http://guynterry.com/reef/fish/banggai_mate1.jpg

After:
http://guynterry.com/reef/fish/banggai_mate2.jpg

Sorry I missed the "during" pic... It must have happened in a flash!

[mgk65]

The yellow tang says "Hmmm, THAT'S why they call 'em banggers!" :D


Those are beautiful fish, Guy! I can't wait to get some from you....


mgk

[Hippocampus]

Is the male on the right or on the left in these photos?

[Guy]

On the right

[Brooke]

Hmmm..interesting observation. I ran to the banggai tank and sure enough my male has white on the front of his pec fins...the female has black before the polka dots start. Looked at my 2 month old babies and they all have white on the front. do your older babies have different markings? If this is a distinguishing characteristic it sure would make sexing easier!

Nice pics!
Brooke

[npaden]

My guess is that the white on the front of the pectoral fins is a coincidence. Here is a pic of my male holding and I can't see a white edge on his fin.

http://padens.homestead.com/files/bangaii_holding.jpg

I will double check when I get home though.

FWIW, Nathan

[Guy]

Yup...looks like coincidence. Possibly a maturity thing and nothing to do with gender....