Easiest saltwater livestock to pair?

[LukeSivyer45]

other then clownfish, what are the easiest things you can keep which you can pair with minimal effort? I’ve heard cleaner shrimp are another good option but I would like to hear anyones experiences or comments

 

[SlugSnorter]

what do you mean? Thats a very broad category.

 

[LukeSivyer45]

what do you mean? Thats a very broad category.

Well like are there some species of animal you can just put two in and they can switch genders? Are they easier fish then others to pair? For example, cardinal fish could be seen as hard to pair as you have to look for the fins, wrasse on the other hand can be completely different colours which makes it easier

 

[davidcalgary29]

In my experience, orchid and springeri dottybacks sort themselves out fairly quickly, albeit possibly with some initial squabbling.

 

[SlugSnorter]

Well like are there some species of animal you can just put two in and they can switch genders? Are they easier fish then others to pair? For example, cardinal fish could be seen as hard to pair as you have to look for the fins, wrasse on the other hand can be completely different colours which makes it easier

some shrimp are hermaphrodites. There are far to many fish that are sexually dimorphic for me to properly list them. Wrasse will become always become males with time.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

Here's a quick list of hermaphroditic groups, making them easier to pair/group:

Angelfish (w/ a big enough tank)
Anthias (ditto)
Small goby species (Eviota, Trimma, Stonogobiops, Gobiodon, etc.)
Hawkfish
Basslets/dottybacks
Wrasses and their relatives (hogfish, tuskfish, parrotfish, etc.)
Boxfish (although they tend to live solitary regardless)

I'm forgetting some but I'm sure that's a good place to start. Generally, if you get these fish younger and vary the sizes of the individuals, you'll have more success.

 

[Steve and his Animals]

There are also those that, as far as I'm aware, are gonochoristic (assigned sex at birth) that are relatively easy to pair regardless, basically a 50/50 if you get two:

Sand sifting gobies (mainly Valenciennea and Amblygobius)
Larger watchman gobies (Cryptocentrus and Ambyleleotris)
Filefish (many have obvious dimorphism)
Triggerfish (similar to files, some are obvious like bluethroats) (big big tank is smart)
Dartfish (most do well in groups anyway)

I'm sure more will come to mind as I and others think about it.

 

[LukeSivyer45]

Here's a quick list of hermaphroditic groups, making them easier to pair/group:

Angelfish (w/ a big enough tank)
Anthias (ditto)
Small goby species (Eviota, Trimma, Stonogobiops, Gobiodon, etc.)
Hawkfish
Basslets/dottybacks
Wrasses and their relatives (hogfish, tuskfish, parrotfish, etc.)
Boxfish (although they tend to live solitary regardless)

I'm forgetting some but I'm sure that's a good place to start. Generally, if you get these fish younger and vary the sizes of the individuals, you'll have more success.

Does this include things such as neon gobies?

 

[Steve and his Animals]

Does this include things such as neon gobies?

Neon gobies are in the genus Elacatinus, which are typically protogynous hermaphrodites (female to male), so yes.

 

[Sharkbait19]

One thing to mention is that you’d probably get a lot more success by getting a group and waiting for a pair to naturally form. This will help to increase chances of a pair forming and reduce aggression between them. Thinking about it, that would probably help with a lot of clown pair problems.

 

[DeniseAndy]

My lemon damsels formed a pair. My other damsels have yet to match up in any form, although I think my talbots have one male and 2 females.

Edit: they were bought young and grew up together.

 

[ZombieEngineer]

I've had good luck with banghai cardinals you just have to do some research on sexing them. Male has 2 vents female has 1. Really cool to see the male with a bunch of babies in his mouth and I had one make it into the sump and survive to adulthood in my old tanks refugium.

 

[Tamberav]

Well like are there some species of animal you can just put two in and they can switch genders? Are they easier fish then others to pair? For example, cardinal fish could be seen as hard to pair as you have to look for the fins, wrasse on the other hand can be completely different colours which makes it easier

yasha gobies.. males have a dark spot on the pelvic fin.

Most gobies change sex if gotten as juvies.. green banded gobies... yellow watchmen...etc

jawfish also change gender... they go from female to male. So it is possible to pair juvies.

there are filefish that can be sexed and some angelfish as well (differences in color/shape).

 

[LukeSivyer45]

yasha gobies.. males have a dark spot on the pelvic fin.

Most gobies change sex if gotten as juvies.. green banded gobies... yellow watchmen...etc

jawfish also change gender... they go from female to male. So it is possible to pair juvies.

there are filefish that can be sexed and some angelfish as well (differences in color/shape).

Does anyone know why they do this? Is it to preserve numbers in the wild so they can live efficiently?

 

[Tamberav]

Does anyone know why they do this? Is it to preserve numbers in the wild so they can live efficiently?

seems efficient? evolutionary advantage, easier to find mates.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Damsels
Some Cardinals
Neon goby
Orchid dottyback

 

[Steve and his Animals]

yasha gobies.. males have a dark spot on the pelvic fin.

Most gobies change sex if gotten as juvies.. green banded gobies... yellow watchmen...etc

jawfish also change gender... they go from female to male. So it is possible to pair juvies.

there are filefish that can be sexed and some angelfish as well (differences in color/shape).

Never heard of Opistagnathids changing sex. Any literature or just guessing base on experience?

 

[LukeSivyer45]

seems efficient? evolutionary advantage, easier to find mates.

Yea, incorrect wording on my part, I meant compared to other species of fish which are born as one sex, these have adapted and evolved.

 

[Tamberav]

Never heard of Opistagnathids changing sex. Any literature or just guessing base on experience?

believe eatbreakfast talked about it once and I saw on KPA website they sell juvies and pairing with sex change.

I think this may mention it.

Reproductive Apparatus of Two Jawfish Species (Opisthognathidae) with Description of a Juxtatesticular Body on JSTOR

Maria B. Rasotto, Andrea Marconato, Douglas Y. Shapiro, Reproductive Apparatus of Two Jawfish Species (Opisthognathidae) with Description of a Juxtatesticular Body, Copeia, Vol. 1992, No. 4 (Dec. 18, 1992), pp. 1046-1053

www.jstor.org

 

[Tamberav]

Yea, incorrect wording on my part, I meant compared to other species of fish which are born as one sex, these have adapted and evolved.

Well some fish pair and others form harems and some just have a big massive spawning party. In some cases it probably isn’t needed but I don’t know why say a blenny doesn’t but a goby does.