Have they spawned yet? It looks like you have a pair to me. Im not 100% sure but from what ive read and noticed on my blue dolphins, the anal fin of a mature male will extend out almost to the full length of the tail while the females anal fin although still pointy will only extend a little passed the base of the tail. Our blue dolphins havent spawned yet either but I attribute it to the tankmates, also dolphins do better in groups than in pairs thats why I just ordered 10 online so we could add more females when they get big enough and take all mbunas out of the tank.
my blue moorii
- Thread starter fishguts
- Start date
Very nice Moorii fishes. Do you know if the Blue Moorii would be a compatable tankmate for a Frontosa?
stanky;3871540; said:
yes I have heard many people keep those types together with success as long as the tank is big enough!
I have a school of 6 dolphins right now. 3 males (two @ 10 inches, one @ 8 inches), and 3 females ( two @ 6 inches, one @ 4 inches).
Someone previously posted that if you have more than 1 male in the tank, they will fight "constantly" (not his exact wording). I found this to not be the case. They will show aggression (alpha male over others) but the lesser males easily subdue to the alpha male (alpha male doesn't harrass the other males unless they get near his "breeding stone"). I've had my 10 inch males go at it before (rare event), but they usually calm down after a few locks of the lips.
Now for the question, I would guess you have at least 1 male (the larger one). However, don't quote me on this. I thought one of my 6 inch females was a male, but a couple weeks later she was holding eggs. I believed she was a male because she was doing a spawning dance to a smaller female tankmate (I would assume this is normal; practicing ? lol
)
Here are some pics. Sorry that pics not the greatest (tanks sides are dirty).
Someone previously posted that if you have more than 1 male in the tank, they will fight "constantly" (not his exact wording). I found this to not be the case. They will show aggression (alpha male over others) but the lesser males easily subdue to the alpha male (alpha male doesn't harrass the other males unless they get near his "breeding stone"). I've had my 10 inch males go at it before (rare event), but they usually calm down after a few locks of the lips.
Now for the question, I would guess you have at least 1 male (the larger one). However, don't quote me on this. I thought one of my 6 inch females was a male, but a couple weeks later she was holding eggs. I believed she was a male because she was doing a spawning dance to a smaller female tankmate (I would assume this is normal; practicing ? lol
)Here are some pics. Sorry that pics not the greatest (tanks sides are dirty).
nice dolphins, mine have not spawned yet. there still doing the mating dance all the time but no spawn. i have a small red jewel in with them and i wander if thats stopping them? water temp is about 82 maybe to warm? im into sa/ca cichlids but when my buddy showed me his dolphins he gave me 3 3/8 inch fry. one died and i raised the other 2 to the size you see in the pics. 6-7 inch male and 4.5-5 inch female.
It might take some time for them to spawn. Mine didn't have a successful spawning until 5 months after I had them. Other fish species should be ok, as long as they don't harass the dolphins (I have a severum and a convict in my 120 with the dolphins and they get along fine !). My water temps are around 82-84 (your temps look good). However, I've noticed the females only tend to "hold" (hold eggs in her mouth) after I do a large water change (around 40%). Another thing you might want to try is getting a few more females. I have 3 females in my school. When my male does his dance and the female isn;t interested, he moves onto the next.
If that doesn't get them to spawn, maybe check water parameters. Mine are: pH 8, medium hardiness.
Here's a few pics of my new batch of fry. I stripped the female today. Looks to be at least 20 fry (pic not showing all fry).
Good Luck. I hope you can get them to spawn. Pretty awesome experience
If that doesn't get them to spawn, maybe check water parameters. Mine are: pH 8, medium hardiness.
Here's a few pics of my new batch of fry. I stripped the female today. Looks to be at least 20 fry (pic not showing all fry).
Good Luck. I hope you can get them to spawn. Pretty awesome experience
they have plenty of stuff to lay the eggs on. but im hoping to get more then 20 fry. i was getting 40-50 fry out of my yellow labs.
Upon further inspection, I think I probably have closer to 30 fry. However, my female is a good 6 inches. I remember reading somewhere (don't remember exact source, possibly aquahobby.com) that blue dolphins will carry more eggs as they grow larger. Hopefully that's true 
i dont see any dark patches (like dots) along the body i look for the shape of their dorsal and anal fins and the spots i have a male and three females pretty easy with my group
