How can I encourage breeding?

[ShadowBass]

This may seem silly, but are you even sure this is a male and female? They both look like males to me. Have they been definitively sexed?

 

[richardhmc]

yes.. they have had babies and one of them look significantly smaller

They had babies before from the previous owner

My local lfs didnt have it.. .. the black water tetra thing

 

[ShadowBass]

They looked about the same size and shape in the pics. Angles I guess.

I've never known anyone that had to do anything special for the breeding of this species. Some people have had them breed with other species quite readily.
Maybe try a very large water change. That triggered my cons to breed last time (not that it takes much for them).
Feed them a lot of meaty stuff. Your temperature also may not be right to get them into breeding mode. I didn't see any mention of it but may have missed it.

 

[richardhmc]

my temp is 84 nd a few days ago i did almost a 75 percent water change!

 

[johnptc]

plenty of rocks and hiding places ???

 

[richardhmc]

hiding places?
I have alot of flat rocks that I found at the shore

what can I use for hiding places?

 

[aquariumguy2300]

I have alot of flat rocks that I found at the shore

Do you mean the seashore?

 

[richardhmc]

yes

 

[Dread]

I'd ditch the sea rocks as they'll probably raise your hardness, or do other things to your water quality. Maybe up the salinity or something. Ditch those, and get 4 or 5 flowerpots. Put them in on their sides, and viola! Convict love nest.

 

[richardhmc]

flowerpot eh? hmmm

but still.. Im trying to keep aggression down between the two fish

the male is torturing the female all the time