Female belly crawler in breeding colors...

[Conner]

So I was rearranging some stock to different tanks yesterday. I upgraded a bunch of fish from a pair of 20g's to a 90g tank. I had a belly crawler in one of the 20g's, who was about 2.5" when I got it. I have only seen it about twice a month since I got it. Well, as I was removing decor to start catching fish, out darts this 5" or so monster belly crawler, with bright red on the belly and at the base of the dorsal fin. I couldn't believe how big and pretty she (pretty sure a she) had gotten!

well I caught her and moved her to the 90g, but didn't think to take any pics at the time. I'll try and get some tonight. hopefully she'll be out and about and I can get some good ones.

I guess my question is, what is the likelihood of finding a mature male bellycrawler, adding him to the tank, and having them pair up? I don't want to end up with yet another dead female pike .

 

[Peanut_Power]

Finding one of the same size will be your hardest problem. Getting another one shouldn't be too difficult though. Get a group, grow them out, then put the males with her.

Good luck with that!

 

[Conner]

Finding one of the same size will be your hardest problem. Getting another one shouldn't be too difficult though. Get a group, grow them out, then put the males with her.

Good luck with that!

Actually, at least two of my lfs' have big tanks with some larger sized belly crawlers in them. I'll have to look closer next time I'm at the store and see if I can spot a male about the same size.

 

[pwmin]

does she have an eyespot on the dorsal fin?...my female does. she's about the same size and maybe 3 years old

 

[Conner]

I didn't get a good look at the dorsal fin, because she had it clamped down tight because of the commotion I was causing. But there was no mistaking the bright red coloration. I forgot to get pics last night, but I'll try to tonight, if I can coax her out.

 

[Peanut_Power]

Make sure 'she' has a spot in the dorsal.

 

[Conner]

I saw her out and about this morning, and she definitely has that "eyespot" in the dorsal. She was out and about showing off while I was feeding, but as soon as I grabbed the camera to snap a shot, she fled behind a flowerpot .

 

[Conner]

Man, she's a little tease. She'll come out and dance around the bottom looking for food or showing off for me, but as soon as I grab for the camera, she darts into hiding! Hopefully she'll let me get pictures soon. Maybe this weekend I'll be able to snap some.

My other two pikes are doing great in the 125g tank, by the way. It just sucks I had to get rid of my nice fat venezuelan pike to be able to move them. Maybe I'll pick up another group of juvies and try to get a pair this time...