Nest-building Fishes

[mewickham]

I'm about to work on an article for Aquarium Fish International about nest-building fishes and looking for ideas about species to include. Here are a few examples:

• bettas build bubble-nests
• sticklebacks build tubes of woven plants
• various cichlids make pits in the gravel (sunfishes and others do, too)
• stonerollers pile up rocks
• plecos dig burrows in mud banks

If anyone can think of other fishes that build different or unusual types of nests, can you please post a note? You might think of something I've overlooked that could expand the content of this article? Thanks.

[kribkid17]

Shell dwellers and shells
mouthbrooders making their mouths as nests?

[dennysfishroom]

Gouramis would fit right in with the Bettas. Denny

[dennysfishroom]

Gouramis would fit right in with the Bettas. Denny

[sumpnfishy]

Various chubs and some shiners make nests. There are many shiner species that spawn over creek chub nests as well so they utilize a nest they don't make themselves.
If digging out a cave under a rock counts you could include several species of darters, as well as additional cichlids.
Michael

[Jackielee]

http://www.google.com/images?rlz=1T4SKPB_enUS365US365&q=hoplo+catfish&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=F6ePTYnPN7SP0QGs6anPCQ&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1419&bih=579

Hoplo catfish are bubble nest spawners they are very interesting. i have some but no spawning activity to date.

[etheonut]

American Flagfish
Many species of madtom - burrows diggers, ledge spawners, etc...
Shiners and others also use sunfish nest as breeding sites, such as the northern studfish
Many of the west African dwarf cichlids not only build nests, but they are VERY particular to the dimension of the nest and it's entrance
In apistogramma species nest sites are under heavy competition because the temperature (which is depth dependent) controls the ratio of male to female in the spawn

This topic doesn't need an article, it needs a book, there is no way you are going to be able to do it justice (my humble opinion)

Kevin

And chubs don't just build a nest, they terraform the whole section of stream where they are going to breed, I have seen horny head chubs with nests that were 4-5 meters long.

[mewickham]

Kevin, you're right. Books could be written on the topic. Magazine articles just give a taste.

On our 2009 collecting trip, on the last stop in the stream above that bridge, there was a large nest of sandy area with a mound of stones piled in the middle. Do you remember it? Do you remember which kind of fish made it?

[etheonut]

I would hate to guess, did you get a picture you can send me?

Kevin

[mewickham]

Actually, it turns out that I did get one, though it's not a good shot. Too much reflection. But I'll e-mail it to you. Thanks!