Stella Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Been playing with my camera tonight... The native torrentfish. Unsurprisingly it lives in really stupidly fast flowing, shallow water. All have the same banding in the same places with slight variation. They scoot about just skimming the rocks like plecos and algae eaters, only they eat critters. Super cute Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 they're amazing... So they'd eat mayfly larvae etc that cling to the bottoms of rocks.... What do you feed them in captivity ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 yeah, mostly mayfly and midge larvae in the wild. I feed them ox heart and bloodworms. It took them a little while to understand red-cubes = food, but they go nuts for it now! They can be a little inclined to fade away in the aquarium, and it is hard to keep an eye on how much food they are getting as those pectoral and pelvic fins hide their tummies. (Mine live with three ravenous shortjaw kokopu). Since they live in such fast flowing habitats, they give the best behaviours in similar aquarium setups. It also means they have a very high oxygen requirement and need it cold. Spectacular fish, but you do need to be paying attention to keep them healthy. Very very little is known about how they spawn. I am determined to find a gravid female this summer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorkel Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Very nice photo! You gotta be wrapped with that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Yes, that would be awesome! Do they have any relatives?? Maybe in Australia? that give some indication of their spawning habits?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 They keep changing the taxonomy. A lot of references say it is the only freshwater member of the blue cod family, but I think that is falling from favour now. It seems to be very much a one-off species! I was reading a bit today about what little they do know about the spawning. They seem to live to around three years, maturing when aged 1+. The females are found further inland, the males don't venture very far inland at all. It looks like they ripen over spring and early summer and spawn during summer. Possibly the females travel downstream to meet the males (this can be a very long way for some!). They are not sure if the eggs are demersal (sinking) or planktonic (floating). The juveniles have a marine stage so either the fry are washed out after hatching, or the eggs are washed out. There is absolutely no idea about actual spawning behaviour or egg development. Right now I can see four of my six torries They naturally hide a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heir Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Woah... You're right. Very little is known about their spawning habits. Interesting! Also interesting that they might be their own genus! Is there going to be a whole chapter in your book about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 That's a cool looking fish and a great photo :bounce: Are those lumps on the snout sensory? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 well, pretty much every fish has its own chapter.....! The snout bumps are nostrils. They have four.... Also the lower jaw is VERY undercut. You can't actually see it in the photo. What looks like a big protrusive lower jaw is actually a big fleshy top lip. The lower jaw fits neatly into this. Really cute when you actually get to see it! This means they are better at getting food from below them. They did SUCK at getting food from the water column initially and often missed, but they are well practised now The fat top lip is actually very very similar in function as the rubbery end to a blue duck's beak... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 If only i had room.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteS Posted September 28, 2008 Report Share Posted September 28, 2008 Cool photo Stella as always. Nice fat fish also, nice clean rock to NZ native Fish Rock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
museeumchick Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Beautiful!!! now i'll have a one of those, and a one of those...... (well one day maybe) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted September 29, 2008 Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Nice pic Stella Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted September 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted September 29, 2008 Beautiful!!! now i'll have a one of those, and a one of those...... (well one day maybe hehehehe I can so relate! Sometimes i wonder if writing the book was merely the excuse to justify having so many fish! I do think torries are one of the more demanding native fish to keep, but lovely wee fish. (BTW Pete, I love your sig line! Mudfish *do* rock ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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