Hello, I have recently ran into some issues with green terrors and aggression in the tank. I have a 55 gallon tank currently with all juvenile cichlids.
-1x 2.5" Firemouth
-2x 3" Green Terror (One slightly larger than other)
-1x 2" Jack Dempsey
-1x 2" Common Pleco
The tank is decorated with numerous caves via table rock and various rock formations that are often swam through. The lighter white colored GT was presumed a male until it layed eggs around a week ago. The same day we quickly bought what was assumed to be a male juvenile and put him in, along with a tank divider, with the female to attempt them to breed. The eggs were eaten by the female a few days later, and after removing the divider, it quickly became evident that the female would not leave the new GT alone, constantly chasing and nibling fins. The new GT would only stay at the top of the tank and was still chased. We decided to put the divider up again and place the aggressive female on the other side to allow the new guy to get used to the tank. He became happy and active, friendly with other fish and regularly ate. Today we took the divider out only to see the female continuing to harass the other GT who won't fight back. The female isn't aggressive to any other fish in the tank and only bothers him. My questions are: Is the 'male' sexually mature? Is this courting behavior? And is the male even a male to begin with. We are looking to breed the GT's as the lfs has offered to buy the babies at a good price. I'll attach some pics of the GT's. The 'male' is black with more flowy fins although theyve been damaged so the dorsal is difficult to make out at the end. He also shows slightly more of a straight head and has a slight noticeable hump compared to the female. Both are around same size. 1st 2 are the new 'male' and last one is the female.
-1x 2.5" Firemouth
-2x 3" Green Terror (One slightly larger than other)
-1x 2" Jack Dempsey
-1x 2" Common Pleco
The tank is decorated with numerous caves via table rock and various rock formations that are often swam through. The lighter white colored GT was presumed a male until it layed eggs around a week ago. The same day we quickly bought what was assumed to be a male juvenile and put him in, along with a tank divider, with the female to attempt them to breed. The eggs were eaten by the female a few days later, and after removing the divider, it quickly became evident that the female would not leave the new GT alone, constantly chasing and nibling fins. The new GT would only stay at the top of the tank and was still chased. We decided to put the divider up again and place the aggressive female on the other side to allow the new guy to get used to the tank. He became happy and active, friendly with other fish and regularly ate. Today we took the divider out only to see the female continuing to harass the other GT who won't fight back. The female isn't aggressive to any other fish in the tank and only bothers him. My questions are: Is the 'male' sexually mature? Is this courting behavior? And is the male even a male to begin with. We are looking to breed the GT's as the lfs has offered to buy the babies at a good price. I'll attach some pics of the GT's. The 'male' is black with more flowy fins although theyve been damaged so the dorsal is difficult to make out at the end. He also shows slightly more of a straight head and has a slight noticeable hump compared to the female. Both are around same size. 1st 2 are the new 'male' and last one is the female.
