Mating Hamlets?

hi all, we found several hamlet pairs today and we're going to try and get some mating shots. What would be the best time to head out? Im thinking about 1 hour before sunset?

Thanks,

Cor

Hey Cor,

I always hit the water when the gap between the sun and the horizon is the same as the width of my hand (when held up with my arm outstretched) - about 45 minutes before the official local sunset time. This usually also gives enough time to swim out to the reef.

Alex

Ok, thats what I figured. It's a bit of a swim so we'll probably get in early. Thanks!

Cor

The actual mating tends to happen about 15 minutes before the sun sets, but you need about 30 minutes to find a couple and get them used to your presence. So Alex is spot on.

Soon you will learn the movements preceding the instant of the mating and be ready for the shot.

Have fun !

The actual mating tends to happen about 15 minutes before the sun sets, but you need about 30 minutes to find a couple and get them used to your presence. So Alex is spot on.

Soon you will learn the movements preceeding the instant of the mating and be ready for the shot.

Have fun !

We found some pairs already, and we're hoping and assuming they stay close to their territory. Unfortunately it's around 70 feet deep, so we're a bit limited in time especially since we dont have nitrox here. We'll probably go out Thursday and see what happens.

So they generally move around a lot?

Cor

Hi,

I did some work on hamlets and their behaviour, hybrids, etc...

As far as I know they tend to be quite independent during the day and about one hour before sunset they look for a partner and they spend some time feeding just before the mating. Mating can happen several times in the last few minutes of daylight, before they split and retire.

Be ready to look around, as those occasional daytime pairs can be different than the mating partners, and they can move in a relatively large territory. I have seen them changing dinner partners just before the mating act, mostly when different species find a similar species at last minute... they prefer equals !

Let us know how it goes

It turned out to be relatively easy. Nothing like dragonets We went out tonight and found at least 4 different species. It was quite easy getting mating shots. They were not bothered at all by my presence, and the pair I photographed mated over 10 times.

Thanks for the tips!

Cor

My very first mating hamlet image, when they went up the first time. Slightly cropped as I didnt realize I could get so close. Taken with a 105mm. We'll probably head back out a few times this week.

Cor

Excellent stuff, Cor. Look forward to seeing more.

Alex

Great stuff Cor - I love hamlets! I got to photograph some of these with Alex once and had a blast. Another timem, I was in Florida and spotted a pair of the electric blue ones (can't remember the name) getting ready to spawn. Luckily for me, I was sporting a 12-24mm lens at the time. :-) There's a photo of Eric with the spawning hamlets in the foreground somewhere on my site :-)

Carlos - welcome to Wetpixel - great to see you posting on here.

Cheers

James

Thanks James !

Good job Cor,

BTW, where are you diving for hamlets?

St Croix, USVI. On our last dive we saw at least 4 species. We were looking for the most colorful one we saw on a day dive, but we couldnt find them anymore. So next dive hopefully

Cor