Today In The Fishroom~12/19/10 F0 P. managuense

I spend a lot of time photographing this particular pair of fish. The fish is F0 and was collected in LaCieba, Honduras. The pair makes it easy and they are really a good looking pair of fish. I've noted before that they have a pretty set pattern of behavior leading up to, during and after breeding.

This particular phase is about a week prior to the event. The male will begin displaying and nudging the female from below...mouthing her side and fins. What I find interesting is that the female more or less goes slack when the male drives her sideways and to the top of the tank. I have several shots like this.

One of the things I do when I want to "create some action" is that I will spend a few minutes right in front of the tank, moving my hands along the glass, annoying the pair with my presence...then I step back and use a 105mm VR lens with three flash units (SB-900) two on top and one on the bottom. All flash units are diffused and output adjusted between +1 and -.75 depending on how much light I need at a particular angle. When you can dial in the correct exposures, the results are quite nice.



Still able to see me outside the tank. I have found that these fish...the parachromis in particular..have very good eye sight for about 6-8 feet in front of the tank. If I stand motionless within that range they will stare...and after a period of time (on their clock) they will resume activity. I try and dress in non contrasting colors and turn off all extraneous light. If you move even a couple inches left or right, they will zone back in on your image. Lot of time spent standing with the camera up to my eye...waiting.

Shortly after they forget about me, the male will begin by puffing himself up and kiting along side the female...fins erect and operculum popping. This photo was part luck and part keeping the lens to my eye for ten minutes. The fish looks insane.



And here he is kiting in over top of the female...completely blocking her from view.



I took these last two pictures and was pretty excited. When I see an image I capture and I know I have something...I get excited and it's like a drug. It just feels good. The question is always, do I put it on the computer now...or keep shooting. I always ultimately default to taking more photos. Like I said, I shoot these a lot and have hundreds that I haven't posted. I was able to get the male doing his "nuptial T-bone" to the female.







That last shot is a killer.

as usual superb shots, last 3 are magnificent, your patience really pays off, some day i might have that patience myself

Superb pictures and stunning fish.Regards,Tim

Brilliant shots and a good read. Cheers Mo



Mark

sheag35 wrote:

as usual superb shots, last 3 are magnificent, your patience really pays off, some day i might have that patience myself

That made me laugh. My sister told a friend of mine once that if I have a camera to my eye I have the patience of a saint...but if I' six deep in a line and in a hurry...someone is going to get hurt. LOL I am VERY impatient when it comes to the every day grind.

LOL

Thanks again.

Mo