Mating injuries

[Miles]

I would isolate the male and benefit the female since she is the one with the injury. Obviously the male is robust and healthy and could probably live in a 2x2 'time-out chamber' for a few weeks to let her heal..

 

[Nick660]

My female has bite marks on her disk in the same area, although not as deep. But, the tips of her pelvic fins really took a beating.

Hmm.........the back edge of my females left pelvic fin is also chewed up

 

[Nick660]

Ok, thanks. Looks like the male is going to get some time alone.....as soon as I can source some clear plastic sheet to make the divider (eggcrate doesn't seem to be commonly available here in the UK).

 

[Mark Huveneers]

Looks like it's just aggression to me, When my pairs are mating I tend to see biting in a specific spot on the ray and not along the outer edge of the disc. I would say looks more like just aggression and not being caused by mating. When mating i see bite marks on both sides of the tail and few inches up from the outer edge of the disc. She isn't to bad just make sure it does not get any worse or might want to remove one of them.

Hi Mike, it is true that experienced male rays tend to bite on specific points. Each ray has its favorite biting spots (I actually know one that always bites on the spiracle), but when a ray is new to mating and doesn't know what to do, it results in injuries like on the pic. Sometimes it takes ages for a ray to get the hang of it, to others it comes more naturally and they are on and off.

Nick I wouldn't worry to much about the healing, as long as your water is ok it should heal up fine.

 

[Nick660]

Hi Mike, it is true that experienced male rays tend to bite on specific points. Each ray has its favorite biting spots (I actually know one that always bites on the spiracle), but when a ray is new to mating and doesn't know what to do, it results in injuries like on the pic. Sometimes it takes ages for a ray to get the hang of it, to others it comes more naturally and they are on and off.

Interesting. Indeed it is their first time so that would make sense of it.
I just hope my male is a quick learner for next time!

 

[Nick660]

Here's a few progress pics just to update the thread :-

Original damage

Separation!

2 weeks healing

4 weeks healing (I allowed them back together for 1 day after 2 weeks apart and the male went straight back to biting her in the same spot! )

They are currently still separated. Yesterday I tried them together again and the biting started immediately!
I'm now considering permanent separation probably by selling the male .

I'm not sure if she is pregnant yet although her appetite has definately increased. What makes me doubtful though is that the male still seems to be showing a great deal of interest in her. Would this be likely to mean that she is still producing hormones indicating she is ready to mate?

Any opinions?