First time breeding aggressive FH

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Snajz

Feeder Fish
Jan 11, 2016
3
0
1
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Hey guys, i've recently bought a female to pair up with my male and I'm trying to breed them. The male were always pretty agressive towards any other fish, always kept alone. I introduced her in the same tank with a DIY divider, he was trying to bite her thought it at day one, but within 24 hours they seemed to get along with each other, her tube dropped and they started to swim together and clean some places, the female was the one doing the hard work, but after about 5 days no eggs were laid, I woke up and saw the female dorsal fins damaged, her upper lips as well. The male was constantly chasing and biting her, she was hiding behing the powerhead filter. I put the divider again, the aggression goes on, her tube is still there. What should I do next? She also had stopped eating for like 2 days, now shes doing fine.. but I'm afraid to let them together again. I really want to breed them, idk wtd. Can someone help?

Heres the couple
80-NqDB3z3.jpg
 
kingbeast350 said:
Leave a big enough gap for the female to pass through the divder. So she can run away from him when he beats her up.
Click to expand...

The way I do it I literally wait until her tube is dropped fully and introduce them again. She will lay within a day or two. Another way is just put a pot near the divider and they can breed through the divider if your worried about health.

My female got beat up the first round of breeding. Second time I didn't even remove the male they're fine.
 
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Thanks for the answers, I already did the open gap trick a couple times, but she always got trapped on the sides of the tank and the male was kicking her ass no matter what, she is recovering now, tube is less visible, I think i'll wait until the tube drops a little bit more and try it again.

By the way, I'll try the mirror thing... If u guys have any other possible solutions, please let me know!

Thanks again.
 
Another trick I've used is to remove the female or block them off so they cannot see one another. You recall when you first introduced them, how they danced around or swam around? Reintroduce them a 2nd or 3rd time...it'll happen. I would also lean a rock or another clay plate up against the glass to give the female a place to retreat and out of reach from the male.
 
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Hey guys, just wanna let you know... Eggs were laid the first time, I was cleaning my filters and I just couldn't see them cause she laid on the filter intake o_O, thats why the male became suddenly aggressive, I'll be careful and protect this area next time, do you guys know when she's gonna laid it again?!

I use a filter like this one, eggs went straight up to the holes on top unfortunately:
20121111121624_18386.jpg
 
I 2nd the point about just leaving the divider in and placing a large flat rock next to it - the spermatophore can pass through the holes easily and fertilize the clutch without risking harm to your female. My female actually laid them right on the damn glass. When they hatch, either cover your filter intake with pices or nylon stocking or it will suck up the fry and kill tthem, or siphon them out into a bucket and give them their own nursery tank with a sponge filter and feed them frozen brine shrimp and daphnia.

Bpera002 Bpera002 - what kind of flowerhorn is that in your avatar?? I have the exact same one but IDK what strain it is
 
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