Help with Green Terror Gender

[H]-[H]

Got these two GTs from the same batch and was wondering if they could be a breeding pair..
Could be too early to tell as both are only about 2.5" but would be nice to know their gender..
They are both in a 120g tank by themselves..

Not sure if it mattered, but the GT in the first pic(GT1) was added in first followed by the other GT(GT2) the next day..
GT1 is slightly bigger/plumper than GT2 and frequently chases GT2 around the tank when it gets near..
The black spot on GT2 also keeps fading whereas GT1 has never once lightened its black spot..

 

[H]-[H]

Today I noticed GT1 has its black spot faded as it was hanging out alone at the top corner of the tank..
I have watched a few clips online but never see any of those GTs’ black spot fade.. only those dominant adult male..
Is this normal behavior though for juvies?

 

[tlindsey]

Today I noticed GT1 has its black spot faded as it was hanging out alone at the top corner of the tank..
I have watched a few clips online but never see any of those GTs’ black spot fade.. only those dominant adult male..
Is this normal behavior though for juvies?

Jexnell
MrsE88

 

[Nove Sedici]

Today I noticed GT1 has its black spot faded as it was hanging out alone at the top corner of the tank..
I have watched a few clips online but never see any of those GTs’ black spot fade.. only those dominant adult male..
Is this normal behavior though for juvies?

In my experience it's way better to give them hiding spaces and put some big piece of wood/stone in the tank. Even when they are small they can be bullies, especially when there are only two of them in the tank. In the 6th picture it looks like the one on the right is trying to escape from the other one.

To sex them is very hard on these pictures for me

 

[kno4te]

Let them get bigger and should be able to tell but does look like one of each.

 

[neutrino]

Today I noticed GT1 has its black spot faded as it was hanging out alone at the top corner of the tank..

I'd keep an eye on them, hanging in a corner can indicate stress from aggression. It's not uncommon behavior for the original to initially chase the newbie, dominate at first, then eventually get whooped.

Also: If I understand correctly which is GT1 and GT2, you may have a male/female and GT1 may be female. Yes, it's early to be certain, but that would be my suspicion at this point if they were mine. And to me they look a little overfed-- again this is just me, but I'd feed slighly less from the looks of them. Also agree it might be better for them to have some (or more) structure in the tank. Don't know what size tank you've got them in or full view of the tank, but breaking things up might help them settle more peacefully. I've kept two or more juvie GTs in a tank before, including male and female, and had them get along fine in tanks that had other tankmates, driftwood, rocks, etc., all of which helped.

Except the wild rivulatus I had that even at 2" only wanted to fight everything all the time, lol.

 

[H]-[H]

In my experience it's way better to give them hiding spaces and put some big piece of wood/stone in the tank. Even when they are small they can be bullies, especially when there are only two of them in the tank. In the 6th picture it looks like the one on the right is trying to escape from the other one.

To sex them is very hard on these pictures for me

Would it work if I used pothos/golden ivy roots instead of wood/stone?
I've a few of the pothos that have been neglected for some time and barely surviving.. Added 1 in just to test and after few days, new roots sprout.. (added picture below)
And yeah, the one on the left(GT1) has been on GT2's tail ever since I added the latter in..

Let them get bigger and should be able to tell but does look like one of each.

I'll definitely post some updates as they grow..

I'd keep an eye on them, hanging in a corner can indicate stress from aggression. It's not uncommon behavior for the original to initially chase the newbie, dominate at first, then eventually get whooped.

Also: If I understand correctly which is GT1 and GT2, you may have a male/female and GT1 may be female. Yes, it's early to be certain, but that would be my suspicion at this point if they were mine. And to me they look a little overfed-- again this is just me, but I'd feed slighly less from the looks of them. Also agree it might be better for them to have some (or more) structure in the tank. Don't know what size tank you've got them in or full view of the tank, but breaking things up might help them settle more peacefully. I've kept two or more juvie GTs in a tank before, including male and female, and had them get along fine in tanks that had other tankmates, driftwood, rocks, etc., all of which helped.

Except the wild rivulatus I had that even at 2" only wanted to fight everything all the time, lol.

I've been keeping close eye on them.. as of now GT1 is still pushing the buttons but GT2 is definitely the more adventurous of the two.. It will explore every inch of the tank unlike GT1 which is more laid back when it's not chasing GT2..

My tank is 4'x2'x2'..

As for them being overfed, I'm not sure about that.. they have only been in my tank for a few days and in these few days, they have only been fed pellets twice a day.. Initially GT1 refuses to eat pellets but today it starts eating, probably after seeing GT2 munching happily on those..

Do you think I should have bought more than two juvie GTs? The only reason I bought 2 was hoping to get a breeding pair + each of them will grow to at least 10" which will then use up more tank space..

 

[Nove Sedici]

i wouldn’t just add pothos but definately some wood and rocks. Fish will show more natural behaviour as well and it breaks The lines and give them proper hiding spaces. Had 2 in a tank and one was chasing the other one around al day.
I’ve added some other fish as dithers as well as an extra female GT and they now they get along fine.

 

[neutrino]

I've been keeping close eye on them.. as of now GT1 is still pushing the buttons but GT2 is definitely the more adventurous of the two.. It will explore every inch of the tank unlike GT1 which is more laid back when it's not chasing GT2..

My tank is 4'x2'x2'..

As for them being overfed, I'm not sure about that.. they have only been in my tank for a few days and in these few days, they have only been fed pellets twice a day.. Initially GT1 refuses to eat pellets but today it starts eating, probably after seeing GT2 munching happily on those..

Do you think I should have bought more than two juvie GTs? The only reason I bought 2 was hoping to get a breeding pair + each of them will grow to at least 10" which will then use up more tank space..

That's the thing with behavior or still photos, doesn't always reflect what you can see in person.

Males may or may not reach 10 inches or more, see link. Females tend to be a bit smaller. The classic way to end up with a pair is to get several (typically 6) and let a pair form naturally, with the idea it gives you better odds for a pair that's compatible. There's validity to that, though it's not always practical and sometimes it works just picking out a male and female for your tank-- I've done it more than once and had it work-- but it doesn't always turn out that the fish you select get along very well.

As for overfed-- again, you're the one who's there and not telling you how to feed. But at least in the photos, their body and belly profile are chunkier than I like to see in my fish, including the GTs I've raised. Just an observation.

 

[H]-[H]

i wouldn’t just add pothos but definately some wood and rocks. Fish will show more natural behaviour as well and it breaks The lines and give them proper hiding spaces. Had 2 in a tank and one was chasing the other one around al day.
I’ve added some other fish as dithers as well as an extra female GT and they now they get along fine.

Valid points in adding wood/rocks.. Did you notice any difference in aggression before and after adding wood?
Another reason I didn't plan to add wood is due to the space they take up in the tank.. Nonetheless, I will heed the advice that you and the others have given and look for some wood, if I can find any that catches my eye..

That's the thing with behavior or still photos, doesn't always reflect what you can see in person.

Males may or may not reach 10 inches or more, see link. Females tend to be a bit smaller. The classic way to end up with a pair is to get several (typically 6) and let a pair form naturally, with the idea it gives you better odds for a pair that's compatible. There's validity to that, though it's not always practical and sometimes it works just picking out a male and female for your tank-- I've done it more than once and had it work-- but it doesn't always turn out that the fish you select get along very well.

As for overfed-- again, you're the one who's there and not telling you how to feed. But at least in the photos, their body and belly profile are chunkier than I like to see in my fish, including the GTs I've raised. Just an observation.

I looked through the link and noticed that most of the female GTs are aggressive towards their counterparts.. Do the females only chase/attack the males?
Does more GTs in a tank reduce aggression or is it the same either way ie the weaker ones will get bullied by the rest?

Onto my GTs update, they are doing ok aside from feeding time.. GT1 went from anti-pellet to pellet-hogging and would just chase GT2 whenever GT2 tries to go for the pellets *facepalm*
So I had to improvise and put the pellets in little by little so GT2 gets to eat as well..