Painted Dragonet Mating/Spawning at Clifton Gardens

Very special moment
Mating at CG on Thursday
They always come out at this time (before sunset)
I have also seen spawning( eggs were floating) but I could not photograph

Painted Stinkfish,
Eocallionymus papilio
Other Names:
Butterfly Dragonet, Painted Dragonet

This male opens his fins to attract a girl

I have seen the mating/spawning of Moyer’s dragonet last August so I knew what was happening here.
This is an example of Moyer's dragonet mating
www.kazkian.com

It was at 17:50. I had a new dive buddy to see at 18:00. I had 10 mins only.
I decided to wait a little.

He kept opening his fins and moving to the girl

He was so quick to move to the girl...
The girl was not moving at all.
and then....

They met each other

The male put his pec fin under her body and started to go up

Kept going up together

kept going up

Kept going up

Approx 50 cm up then stopped

Suddenly separated so quickly. I watched the eggs were floating around in the water

I could not photograph floating eggs...but i was very satisfied and headed back to the car park