Krobia sp. 'Xingu Orange Spot' can't make up their minds!

[ryansmith83]

This is so frustrating. I've had these guys for over a year now and I've wanted them to spawn for me. I have four fish and they appear to be two males and two females. Two are larger with a taller forehead and longer fins, while the other two are shorter with more blunt fins. They grew out in my 150 gallon with severums, angels, and Geos, but a couple weeks ago I moved them into their own 55 gallon to see if they'd settle down and spawn.

As you can see from the "female's" fins, it's been war instead. I don't ever see them fighting when I'm in the room, but when I come back they always have torn up fins. I have some flower pots and flat rocks in the tank, and the males seem interested, but the females haven't been as willing. Today when I came home, these two had put on their black masks and were spending a lot of time under the driftwood in the tank. They've been displaying for each other a bit tonight. I see a slight tube on her and a fairly noticeable one on him, so who knows?

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[Jason_S]

very cool seldom seen species

 

[ryansmith83]

They looked a lot better when the female's fins were intact!

 

[peathenster]

Gorgeous!!

Found an article by Andrew Wood (http://forum.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/showthread.php?t=22456). He bred them at pH5. Do you think water chem is the problem?

Matt???

 

[ryansmith83]

Anything is possible. I'll give them some more time before playing with the water. These are not wild fish, so they may be more inclined to spawn in harder water. It hasn't stopped any of my severums, festivums, etc. Though RO may be my next step.

 

[dogofwar]

They can be rough on each other, especially males on other males...and males on females...even horny females on not so horny males. I found that the fins grow back pretty quick but watch out for fungus from body woulds (what got mine).

Mine bred, eggs hatched and fry went free swimming in my local tap water (pH 7.4; relatively low alkalinity; medium hardness), so that shouldn't be an issue. A little tannins from driftwood don't hurt though.

My advice: Keep the pair that you think is most likely a pair in the 55g and move the other back to the bigger tank...and add a spare severum or something not too aggressive to the 55g with the pair. Feed lots of worms over the next couple of weeks...do a big, warm waterchange on the 55g and see what happens. Usually did the trick for mine. Of course the pair in the community tank might decide to spawn first!

Good luck!
Matt

 

[Aquanero]

Nice fish Ryan, I can't sex mine. I might have all males but I always suspected one is female. I've had no spawning behavior in the community tank or when they were in their own tank but mine are still young so we'll see what happens. Beautiful fish though eather way. Good luck I hope you get them to spawn.

 

[ryansmith83]

Thanks, Matt. I did consider moving the other two fish back to the bigger tank. The other male shows a few nips in his fins now which weren't there before, so it does appear that things are heating up. This morning my suspected female from the pictures is staying in a flower pot. I can barely see her through the small hole in the back of the pot, but it looks like she's shaking/cleaning. Her lips also look scuffed up which kind of confirms that she's been mouthing/cleaning the inside of the pot.

Tom, mine are almost 2 years old and this is the first time I've ever seen breeding activity. I think Matt mentioned his were 2 years old or so before they spawned? Maybe it takes them a while to mature.

 

[Nemesis]

Good luck with them. They look great.

 

[dogofwar]

Sounds really promising - my females always disappeared into a pot when they bred. The colors should have changed as well (darker / bars).

Also, keep an eye on the non-breeders. This is when the male will be most likely to pound on them...

When I get home tonight I'll dig out some old pics.

Matt