Firemouths

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
scratanut

scratanut

Candiru
MFK Member
Feb 9, 2007
270
3
48
India
www.flickr.com
I have three Firemouths for a month and half, they've grown an inch in the period, but they dont have very impressive red coloration under them. I bought them at 2" hoping that their color(esp reds) intensify as they grow, but theres not much improvement seen yet. So my question is that coloration depends on each individual or can the color be enhanced by age or food? I feed them spirulina, Flowerhorn pellets and carnivore flakes as staple, tubifex(live n dried) and shrimps n prawns as a treat.
How to sex them? this is what I felt, tell me whether its right. Two of them are bigger than the third lighter in color and sometimes flaring and fighting with each other and both of them made their territories, the third one is dark never flares or fights with other two, by this I guess the third one is female.
The supposed to be female is below the others in these pics.

df 019ff.jpg

df 020n.jpg
 
first I think that for juvies, your fish look excellent. Their color will develop while they grow but they really do look good in your pics. The FM's I've kept have shown their best color when I fed them Krill. At that size I'd go with frz dried as you can break it up better for them. Your Tiger barbs will benefit as well...it really brings out the red and orange in the fish I've kept and others here have done it too.

As far as sexing. The males I've had develop a "Whip" on the tip of the dorsal fin. However, I've usually had to wait to around the 4" mark to distinguish it fairly easily.

They look great...really, so hang in there and vary their diet. A solid w/c schedule will help too but by the looks of them you're doing pretty well.

Here's a pic of a big male I lost this summer. He was the best one I've had and ate krill every other day along with various pellets.

Good luck with your FM!

flare_up.jpg
 
@ headrush-Nice FM you had...sorry to know that u lost it, I've seen it in your video on youtube gr8 anubias too(this thread in not for plants but wanted to know whether anubias r easy to keep in lowtech tanks w/o ferts n all).
Thanks for your good remarks, will try to find some krill for them. Every week I change about 30-40% of water. They live in a 33g 3 footer tank, which was previously occupied by African cichlids, all of them I gave away to my friends and the last redtop zebra I had, exchanged it for these three FMs at lfs n I feel that these are way to peaceful than Africans.
If a pair is formed, can these three be kept in existing tank, or I'll have to give away the third one?
 
I would remove any outcasts and leave only the pair of FM and the tiger barbs in the 33. Barbs worked out ok for me as Target fish in my 30 until My JD acquired a taste for them :D

I wouldn't expect the FM's to bother them too much though.

IMO I'd rather keep FM's in a bigger tank like 40-55 gallons but many people here seem to keep them in 30's. I think you'll be ok with the w/c schedule you have as its the same as mine

I haven't heard of the other food type mentioned above but I'd give it a try or switch between that and krill to vary the diet. I like to use a good cichlid staple and vary from there.

Nice fish & Good luck!
 
Yours look fine, no dullnes, just average. id wait ti out more untill you have a sure pair then get rid of the other.ya ive had my two for almost a month now and one is 2" and always has its fins up, chases other fish from its terrotory, but is quite dull in color, barely has any red, just a bit of orange on the stomach, and somr irridescence on its fins sides, and face. The other is about 1.75" and submissive. he gets chased a few times a day, and he always has his fins down. He is darker in color, has lots of red in his fins and on his stomach. He kinda hangs out with the other FM, and the big one doesnt care. I think my small one is a submisssive male (because of his fantastic coloring) and the other is a dominant female(because of her dullness). IDK i hope they are or become a pair. all i can do is wait. time will tell.
 
An update after a year, in the photo is the smallest of three very close to 5" mark. Whats the max size firemouths grow(total length)? 15cm or 17cm?

fm1.jpg
 
Wow impressive, ive seen them go up to 17cm but not so often, usually stop growing at 15cm.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom