My second time too and I moved my first group before any spawning activity.. This pair is 4-4.5" and definitely seem bonded.. I've had them in a 5 foot 120G w/ a group of pasionis and now a 6 foot 125G w/ a group of helleri and they've been inseparable in both.. No spawns or breeding dress yet, but seems imminent.. Also, the guy that gifted them to me said they were terrorizing his other hets and cichlids so he had to move them.. Seems like they're close..
But hopefully no drama if / when..My original group has been w/ the big melanura pair and a group of meeki in the 6 foot 240G.. I see signs of pairing, even some breeding dress.. But I think they're kinda reluctant with the melanura pair.. The melanura pair wiped out multiple meeki fry and basically run the tank.. I think if I could move the hets to a different tank where they're dominant, they'd breed... Just need 1 more tank..
But long story, long, I have no clue..
But I think 5-6" they should be close, I guess, if they're comfortable.. I've kept other medium sized cichlids that spawned at smaller sizes (V. breidohri, A. rivulatus and stalsbergi 3-3.5").. and others like Nics, lyonsi, C. rostratus started at the 5-6" stage..
