Female and male size comparison

[SaltyPlum]

Im an experienced fish keeper, but a bit of a noob when it comes to breeding and keeping spawning pairs.

With American cichlids dose female and male size comparisons play a factor in keeping a successful spawning pair (i.e. does the male always have to be bigger than the female).

 

[fishguy1978]

No, you could have a successful pairing with a smaller male.

 

[SaltyPlum]

No, you could have a successful pairing with a smaller male.

Good to know. Have you experienced keeping a successful pair with a larger female?

I recently built a couple of breeding racks and currently have a pair of red devils, and some green texas spawning atm, with the male being larger than the females with both pairs. Within 2 weeks or so of intoducing the pairs they have started to spawn. However, I currently have two GTs where the female is queit larger than the male and it's been over 2 months and the two are showing no signs of spawning. My thinking around why they havent paired up is because the female is larger or may be because they are in a community tank.

 

[C. Breeze]

Bigger male is almost always helpful.

 

[fishguy1978]

Good to know. Have you experienced keeping a successful pair with a larger female?

I recently built a couple of breeding racks and currently have a pair of red devils, and some green texas spawning atm, with the male being larger than the females with both pairs. Within 2 weeks or so of intoducing the pairs they have started to spawn. However, I currently have two GTs where the female is queit larger than the male and it's been over 2 months and the two are showing no signs of spawning. My thinking around why they havent paired up is because the female is larger or may be because they are in a community tank.

I have not. My pairs that I have right now all have larger males. My G. Brasiliensis were purchased as an unknown trio and I ended up with a male and 2 females. Both of the females are significantly smaller even though all 3 were roughly the same size at purchase. Same with my Redhead Tapajos. I do have a male and female Green Severum but she tries schooling with the larger female H. Notatus.