I was just thinking to myself... When do you know for sure that you actually have a pair? I currently have 4 festae (1 male, 3 female). 2 of the females are hated by the other female and male in the tank so I am getting rid of them. I have a divider, and all the females stay on one side, except the dominant female ventures over to the males side quite frequently. when this happens, he shakes and tail flaps to try and impress her. She will then swim around him for a while and color up like crazy! but then she will go back on the other side for a while and chase the other females. When the other females go on the males side, they nearly get killed every time. So my question is, are my dominant female and male actually a pair? or should the female be on his side all the time if they were really a pair? Let me know. Thanks!
Are they really a pair???
- Thread starter englunkm
- Start date
cichlidinsomniac;3646298; said:
Not always - my male is a very opportunistic breeder. He mated with 3 females - I fact the first 2 lay eggs was the smallest F but at the time the prettiest. Once the fry hatched he killed her same held true for the second - he still lives with the third. If I had it to do all over again - I'd leave the what appears to be dom.F - remove the other 2 and see what happens.
In the event he doesn't pair with the 1st - remove her try another one.
Yeah, i'd be pretty sure you have a pair with the dominates from what has happened in my tanks over the last few years. My male paired with the largest most aggressive female in the 225. Can you block off the divider once the most dominate female is in with him? When I let my male n female together she swims around and he circles her with all his fins n underside of his head all pushed out.
He is currently watching her through the divider like a lovesick teenager.
Her tube is down so they need to go back together soon I think.
Well best of luck with the pairing.
J
He is currently watching her through the divider like a lovesick teenager.
Her tube is down so they need to go back together soon I think.
Well best of luck with the pairing.
J
I can block the divider when she is on his side, but I am worried that will stress her out if she is not able to get back to the other side of the tank. I am removing the other 2 females very soon, hopefully tonight. There are plenty of hiding spots in the tank, so I am thinking maybe I should take the divider out for a while and see how it goes with only the dominant female and male in the tank?
That sounds like a good plan, can you wait till you will be around, sometimes they can be a bit aggro. Be good to be around to be able to redivide them if need be. i think with the other fish gone they will start courting.
good luck.
good luck.
I breed all my large cichlids through a divider, they never touch each other, why risk losing a valuable fish? Males don't care, any female that lays eggs he will do his job. Ken
Is the success rate for successful spawns lower if you breed them through a divider? I would imagine it would be harder for them to do it right every time that way... On the other hand, I see how it is much less risk. Hmmmm....