Freshwater Game Fish of North America: An Illustrated Guide by Thompson Peter

Author:Thompson, Peter
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780892728947
Publisher: Down East Books (R&L)

Males become aggressive as mating draws nearer. Unlike trout and salmon, however, gray-ling defend territories and mates with lateral body and erect fin displays, rather than direct physical attacks. Also unusual for the family is the fact that nests are not dug, rather the bottom of the site is cleared by the female’s fanning her tail fin over it to remove silt and other debris. When the female is ready to spawn, she hovers over the site and is immediately joined by the dominant male, who drapes his large dorsal fin over her back while the pair quivers with mouths agape as eggs and sperm are simultaneously released. The pair’s vibrating motions partly cover the fertilized eggs, after which the female may spawn in one or more additional sites. After spawning, the parent fish move immediately back to the main river or lake. Females carry 4,000 to 7,000 eggs, which incubate only 2 to 3 weeks before hatching. Fry spend 8 days absorbing the yolk sac, but may begin feeding in about 3 days. Early in their lives, Arctic grayling grow rapidly, but this rate slows later on, especially in more northern habitats.

Arctic grayling become sexually mature between 5 and 9 years of age, and may live 11 or 12 years. They do not die after spawning.

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