Lingcod eating habits?

Fish & Invertebrate sightings and descriptions, hosted by resident NWDC ID expert Janna Nichols (nwscubamom).
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Tidepool Geek
Aquaphile
Posts: 123
Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2011 10:36 pm

Lingcod eating habits?

Post by Tidepool Geek »

Greetings,

There seem to be a lot of Lingcod watchers on this forum; I'm hoping one of you can help me with a question.

At the Feiro Center we have two young Lingcod (Ophidon elongatus) each in the 18 to 24 inch size range (roughly double the size when we acquired them). Both appear to be healthy and properly proportioned.

The thing is - Both of these fish quit eating a few months ago and both refused food for about two months; we went so far as to shove herring (normally a favorite) into their mouths - both would spit the food out immediately. Both animals resumed feeding in late July and now seem to be back to their normal ravenous selves. This phenomenon didn't happen last year when the two were too small and young to be sexually mature.

Since the 'fasting period' seemed to roughly correspond to when folks were posting images of Lingcod guarding eggs, I'm wondering if Lingcod spawning and Lingcod (not) eating are linked. FWIW: We haven't had any eggs or other apparent spawning behavior and don't really know the sex of our two fish.

Thoughts, anyone?

Hungrily yours,
Alex
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Jan K
I've Got Gills
Posts: 5249
Joined: Fri Aug 04, 2006 5:02 pm

Re: Lingcod eating habits?

Post by Jan K »

Looking through my files, I have picture of Lingcod eating a sculpin in March of 2005 at Langley.
It was NOT guarding eggs, but other Lings were.
http://JanKocian.smugmug.com

I take photos because I like it, not because I'm good at it. :) by Unknown
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