False spawning

False spawnings can occur several times prior to an actual spawning. Males may release sperm during a false spawning.

Female Chinook Salmon instigating overly eager males including two jacks to false spawn
Female Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) instigating overly eager males including two jacks to false spawn by probing her redd in Montana Creek near Talkeetna, Alaska
Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chinook Salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei King Salmon Montana Creek Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Susitna River Tributary Teleost United States Vertebrate biosphere false spawning fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature near Talkeetna spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
An attempted start to spawning by the female Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is preempted by the alpha male charging after a sneaker male.
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate biosphere false spawning fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
Pink Salmon false spawning
Female Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) is positioned alongside her redd allowing milt to disipate after a false spawning
Alaska wild salmon Class Actinopterygii Humpback Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Pink Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Vertebrate biosphere false spawning fish behavior in situ intertidal spawning naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
A female Chum Salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) probes her redd as milt from a false spawning dissipates downstream.
Actinopterygii Alaska Alaska wild salmon Chordata Chum Salmon Class Actinopterygii Dog Salmon Fish Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus keta Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing South Central Alaska Subclass Neopterygii Summer Teleost Teleostei United States Vertebrate biosphere chordate covering redd false spawning fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature photographed under water probing spawning behavior underwater underwater photography underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False spawning
False spawning: three male Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) releasing milt as female watches from downstream. Aspect Ratio = 4:5.
Alaska wild salmon Autumn Class Actinopterygii Coho Salmon Infraclass Teleostei Oncorhynchus kisutch Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Silver Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Vertebrate biosphere false spawning fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon
False Start
A male Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchis nerka) spawning before the female has completed digging the redd. The female is probing with her anal fin as part of this process.
Actinopterygii Alaska wild salmon Chordata Class Actinopterygii Infraclass Teleostei Neopterygii Oncorhynchus nerka Pacific salmon Phylum Chordata Red Salmon Salmonidae Salmoniformes Salmoninae Seacam underwater housing Sockeye Salmon Subclass Neopterygii Teleost Teleostei Vertebrate biosphere chordate false spawning fish behavior in situ naturalworld nature spawning behavior underwater underwaterphoto wild wild salmon