What does it look like when Orchid Dottybacks are paired up?

[kinetic]

I introduced two ORA captive-bred dottybacks into a 8g QT tank months ago. Then, released both into my DT (36gallon display). They have dug out burrows close to each other, and often explore the tank with each other. Rarely, I'll see one kind of rush at the other, but never right into it. The other kind of just dashes in a close circle, but they never really fight.

One is 1.5", the other is 2" now.

They both eat, are really fat (one is WAY fatter than the other). Their bottom fins are not discernibly different in length, though the smaller fatter one has slightly shorter ones.

What should I be looking for to know if they're paired up?

If they're not, then I guess they seem to be pretty happy / tolerant of each other in the tank.

 

[mort]

When I bred them the male grew a discernibly longer bottom half of the caudal fin. It was also larger but far slimmer, the female was pretty plump. Colour was stronger on the female but that might have just been the way I remember it since the male spent a good 4 years of the 5 I had them guarding eggs and was a shadow of his former self after all this work before the female killed him (he sired hundreds of baby's so did a great job).
I would guess you are seeing the beginnings of sexual dimorphism and tolerance is a great sign. I don't think it will be that long before the male goes missing for a few days guarding eggs.

 

[kinetic]

Thanks for the info!

My two orchid dottybacks are exploring all sorts of parts of the tank now. I have a Sailfin Blenny in a little isolation box (that has its top off and is sitting on the sandbed now, he loves it there and doesn't really leave it), that the two dottybacks constantly visit now. They go into it and circle around quite a bit.

The smaller dottyback is extremely fat. I thought it could be some kind of parasite or something in the gut, but she's been fine and eats well. Poop is normal. Maybe she's just fat, but maybe she has eggs?

Anyway, we'll see what happens! I don't see any other specific behavior that makes them look like a pair other than the lack of aggression.

 

[mort]

Tolerance is huge in the dottyback world. Some species will happily kill the other sex if they aren't in the mood.

With your fridmani you should see a plump female but when she has eggs she'll be much bigger. They hydrate their eggs on the day of spawning so will be really fat all of a sudden and then back to normal after they have laid. If you see the size of a mature pairs egg ball you will be very impressed.