Growing up blue

[Niki_up]

Little update, the ebjd and regular jd in the 75g tank are doing great the male might be just over 4” and the female isn’t too far behind.

The two EBJDs that moved into their own tank have been so stresse there has been an outbreak of ick, they are undergoing treatment. On the plus side they are eating daily again and have started coming out more.

Pics to come

 

[AKBlueJacks]

Do you have any other fish in the tank? If you would have a few smaller schooling fish in there swimming around they might feel a little more safe and less stressed. Just a thought. I have a few Odessa Barbs in one of my tanks and they seem to always be on the move out in the open.

 

[Niki_up]

Do you have any other fish in the tank? If you would have a few smaller schooling fish in there swimming around they might feel a little more safe and less stressed. Just a thought. I have a few Odessa Barbs in one of my tanks and they seem to always be on the move out in the open.

There are some mwcm in the tank right now, something to encourage them to come out and if they wish something to eat.

 

[Niki_up]

Went to take some pics today and the female in the 75g has been nipping the male and now he’s hiding from her...these guys are going to drive me batty lol

 

[Niki_up]

I finally had a bit of time to sit down and watch my 75g tank, I noticed every time I go to feed I have to lure the male out to eat (he is always hiding when I go to feed)

Today I seen both of them, Gill flaring, tail slapping, and lip locking.

Does anyone know what I would be looking for to know if they are accepting or rejecting each other?

Pics below

 

[Jexnell]

I may be wrong but looks like courtship dancing. Female cichlids typically fight with the male pre breeding as a test. If she can kick his but he won't make a good dad right. If it goes on for an extended period of time I would put a divider or separate. At that time is more of a rejection than a courtship dance.

Here a vid of my cons doing the same thing you are describing.

 

[AKBlueJacks]

I agree with Jexnell. With her dark color and the fact that she looks fat with eggs, I would vote that she is checking out a prospective mate. I think she is interested in breeding.

 

[Niki_up]

Very good points! Thank you.

That’s what I wanted to know at what point is it harassment vs courtship.

 

[Jexnell]

In that vid of mine they did that for about 10 min or so. Then one swam off and hid, aperantly not ready to breed, the lighter one of the two in the vid.

I wouldn't give it much more time than 15min or so. Or if it's evident that it's turned into outright fighting.

 

[AKBlueJacks]

I would get concerned if one of them looked like it was continually trying to get away from the other, but can’t escape the continual harassment. I would watch to see if one of them starts to have visible injuries from the other. Then I would separate.