H. Carpintis “Escondido”

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

To me it looks as though you miss labeled the pics. The one you called female looks like a male. And the one you called male looks female. Going by head slope alone.

I am in agreement with you. Looks like a pair. Just give it some time.

 

[danotaylor]

Ok folks, so when I emptied this tank of its tropheus inhabitants last night I caught and vented my 2 carpintis. 1 is definitely a male and the other I thought was male, but after seeing the males vent now I’m not certain. Today the 1 I am not certain about is chasing the definite male all over the tank. Having the tropheus in there certain curbed this chasing behavior.
How common would it be for a female to be the one chasing? It is the bigger of the 2 by about 0.5”.
This one was definitely male;


This one unsure;


I guess I would have thought they’d have spawned by now at this size, but maybe the busy crowded super active troph inhabitants eliminated that potential??
Thoughts from the CA gang?

 

[Milingu]

No idea if it is male or female but it wouldn't be the first time that a female does not accept a smaller male.

 

[danotaylor]

No idea if it is male or female but it wouldn't be the first time that a female does not accept a smaller male.

Fair comment Cheers mate

 

[duanes]

i agree with you´re latest assessment, in the pics 2 posts above, the male is 1st, and the one marked unsure looks female.
its about the cranial profile

male above, female below

 

[Milingu]

Fair comment Cheers mate

Unintended joke
But I meant it seriously. I have seen it several times in central and in South American Cichlids. Males that are smaller than the female were not accepted by the female.

 

[danotaylor]

Thank you both!

 

[Roger Mcfish]

Unintended joke
But I meant it seriously. I have seen it several times in central and in South American Cichlids. Males that are smaller than the female were not accepted by the female.

I can agree with your comment. I had a group of 10 festae grow out where 2 females became larger than the males.

 

[RD.]

Agree with the others, male and female. Hopefully the lady learns to play nice. I once had a "pair" I use the term loosely so don't hate me, female BP, and male Escondido, many spawns later, and after being together for several years, one day the slightly smaller female BP decided that no meant no, and tore this 9+ male carp up so bad that by the time I got home from work that day, it was all over but the crying. Unfortunately, she had a very normal mouth/bite, and sharp teeth. The moral of the story is this, male carps are relentless when it comes to spawning. They don't let up, and in the artificial confines of a glass box, bad things can sometimes happen. Good luck with them!

 

[danotaylor]

Agree with the others, male and female. Hopefully the lady learns to play nice. I once had a "pair" I use the term loosely so don't hate me, female BP, and male Escondido, many spawns later, and after being together for several years, one day the slightly smaller female BP decided that no meant no, and tore this 9+ male carp up so bad that by the time I got home from work that day, it was all over but the crying. Unfortunately, she had a very normal mouth/bite, and sharp teeth. The moral of the story is this, male carps are relentless when it comes to spawning. They don't let up, and in the artificial confines of a glass box, bad things can sometimes happen. Good luck with them!

Thx RD! Noted. I’ll keep a close eye on things over the next week or two. If she appears to be damaging him physically and not just emotionally () I will remove the loaches and put a divider in the tank until he is bigger than her. Appreciate your input mate