I have two 9~10" H. psittacus that have been in a 120 for about 18 months. They lived together with no problems for over a year, and then one started getting picked on, so I divided the tank. Everything has been fine since. Last night I was cleaning the tank and took the divider out and with seconds, they locked lips. I could even reach in and touch them, they were so focused. Do I have a potential pair, or are they just fighting? Any thoughts?
Hoplarchus psittacus
- Thread starter cartersvillealex
- Start date
hard to say... cichlids fight regardless of sex. i suggest keeping the divider up longer to see what happens. observe whether there is any breeding behavior after they are divided. this could come in the form of digging away at the gravel between them, some body shakes, flaring etc. from what i heard about this species they mature really slowly - i think a couple of years in fact. i'm not sure about what size they start breeding. one way is to vent them. also if you are having the feeling they might be a pair start feeding them good stuff like earthworms, krill etc.
Do you have any pics? I'd love to see them, as i own a 6" one and would love to see some at that size.
I've had three for almost 3 years now. I got them when they were just an inch and a half long. They too have been raised in a 120. For the most part the biggest picked on the two smaller fish and the second largest picked on the smallest. They have never gotten along.
Two weeks ago I hooked up an automatic water change system that changes out 75 GPD with freshly made R.O. water. Within a week of hooking this up the two largest fish have paired up and started cleaning a log. I can see the female's breeding tube starting to extend. They never went through a stage of lip locking. They tail slap occasionally and flare at each other but that is about it. The pair still terrorize the smallest fish which lives its life imitating a tank corner.
I'm hoping they breed sometime in the next week or two.
Two weeks ago I hooked up an automatic water change system that changes out 75 GPD with freshly made R.O. water. Within a week of hooking this up the two largest fish have paired up and started cleaning a log. I can see the female's breeding tube starting to extend. They never went through a stage of lip locking. They tail slap occasionally and flare at each other but that is about it. The pair still terrorize the smallest fish which lives its life imitating a tank corner.
I'm hoping they breed sometime in the next week or two.
Quote from PFK - "this species has rarely, if ever, been bred, and stocks are usually wild-caught". This kinda shows that the chances of them breeding are very slim meaning it's more likely they're just fighting.
this species is bred but the fish have to be older than most cichlids. given the right water params, food, and a mature mated pair it will happen. if you have the time to keep a vigilant eye on them take the divider out if it gets too violent for you liking put it back in and try again another time.
cartersvillealex;1001421; said:
The male is about 9". The female only slightly smaller at 8" - 8 1/2".
Until they paired off and the female's tube started to drop I had no idea what sex any of mine were.
They aren't too agressive compaired to some cichlids, but mine does mouth lock a lot with my port acara.
Scatocephalus;1001123; said:
Well you know who wants a couple if you do have some babies !!!!
So remember me 