Are my jawfish mating or fighting?

[jethro]

They have been in the tank for over a month now. They have been living the same hole until today. The home has a front and back door entrance that is within an inch of each other. This is how close they have been living. When they came out, they came out together. When they fed, they would swim almost in unison. I figured they had mated.

Today I noticed that some digging had been done on the far side of the tank but they were both together in their home. Tonight I fed them...later I returned to see that the larger one is chasing the smaller one away and wont let it come back. I figured they must be fighting because the smaller one was trying to go through the glass on the opposite end of the corner tank.

Then they started this ritual that is going on right now...
The smaller one comes back so far and does this little ritual where it bows down while looking at the larger one. The larger one comes towards it and the smaller one backs off. The smaller one practically lays flat on the ground and curls at times, all the time they are watching each other. The smaller one does this bow. The go back in forth basically keeping the same distance from each other while doing this.

What's happening?

 

[wade1]

I'd guess they are trying to pair up, although theres no way of knowing for certain until you see the male tending the eggs. They'll actually pick up the sticky egg mass and move it around at times. Keep an eye on them and make sure you have enough chunky particulate substrate to keep their dens structurally secure.

Wade

 

[jethro]

I am doubting they are two mails because they stuck together for so long.

One is about 1/2" to 1" longer than the other.

I was reading some lit that says the males are bigger than the female.

The smaller one seems interested in coming back but the big one is keeping it away.

 

[jethro]

It is 24 hours later and they are back together again.

Here is a pic, if I can make the attachment work.

 

[jethro]

Last night my pic was here, tonight it is not.

Does a moderator take away the pics?

 

[elvn]

You have to be logged in for the pictures to show up, maybe the pc connected with last time wasn't logged in on the broswer with your password. The pic shows up for me as long as I'm logged in :wink:

 

[jethro]

Thanks Elvn. I didn't know that.

I see the pic now.

They are separated again. I don't know what is going on with them.

If they were two males, I would think they would stay separated.

 

[SnoopDog]

Wow can you keep jawfish together in a tank ? I thought they would fight.

 

[jethro]

They are back together again. I through some pics in the Photo Gallary "jawfish pics" thread.

http://reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=32132

Check out Sanjay's pics. Awesome.