The" rough" female is a serial killer and couldn´t be with any other channa. It started harassing them and ripping their fins if not in day one, in day two or three of cohabiting.
I tried mixing it all again and put all four together again in hopes she would pair up with the big (and only more likely to be) male. But with no success.
After a while dedicated to the other 2 channas in the tank (giving them a hard time) she cornered the bigger male (not bitting but flaring and "pushing" him) and by day 2 she was chasing him everytime he tried to leave the corner.
The small poss female (the one that was with the male) tried to "man up "(or women up) against the dominant female but the size differente (from 7 to 10") gave her no chance. She also attacked (and was fought back) the other channa (the one that was initially in the dominant female´s side) .These two engaged in a mortal fight..
So I took the only decision that seemed logical which meant departing with the dominant (and overall best looking) fish of the group. The dominant female is now at Miguel´s place as a solo fish in a tank. She will be very well cared for.
I also separated the one that was initially with that dominant female (in the leftside of the tank) removed the divider and left the two that seemed to have paired up alone in the tank. These two - that were in the right side of the tank, see above posts -get along very well. Eat together, swim closely and "rub noses and bodies" all the time. Evertyhing points to be a confirmed macth but only time will tell.
Finally and on a side note, it really is more difficult than I suspected to sex them (specially the 3 smaller ones)! I think I got almost eveything wrong in my first assessment, except for te dominant female.
The bigger one (11") is very very likely a male. Once it started to settle and opened its fins it was clear that the dorsal fin is much wider than the dorsal fins of all the others. I would say it is ~1,5cms (1/2") wider than the one of the dominant female. He is also the calmest of the group.
As regards the other 3...(all between 7 and 9")
-the smaller (7") one that is getting along with the male is most likely "his" female;
-the one that was previously with the dominant female (left side of the tank), I suspect also female because as soon as I removed the divider and as mentioned above it started immediately fighting with the likely small female that paired up with the male.
-the one that I firstly separated from the group (after being trashed by the dominant female), I really don´t know.
Too confusing? Anyway the current status is:
- tank with a likely pair (not to be disturbed);
- one likely female separated and solo in another tank in my place (backup "likely female")
- dominant female solo at Miguel´s place;
- 5th fish solo at Miguel´s place.
I tried mixing it all again and put all four together again in hopes she would pair up with the big (and only more likely to be) male. But with no success.
After a while dedicated to the other 2 channas in the tank (giving them a hard time) she cornered the bigger male (not bitting but flaring and "pushing" him) and by day 2 she was chasing him everytime he tried to leave the corner.
The small poss female (the one that was with the male) tried to "man up "(or women up) against the dominant female but the size differente (from 7 to 10") gave her no chance. She also attacked (and was fought back) the other channa (the one that was initially in the dominant female´s side) .These two engaged in a mortal fight..
So I took the only decision that seemed logical which meant departing with the dominant (and overall best looking) fish of the group. The dominant female is now at Miguel´s place as a solo fish in a tank. She will be very well cared for.
I also separated the one that was initially with that dominant female (in the leftside of the tank) removed the divider and left the two that seemed to have paired up alone in the tank. These two - that were in the right side of the tank, see above posts -get along very well. Eat together, swim closely and "rub noses and bodies" all the time. Evertyhing points to be a confirmed macth but only time will tell.
Finally and on a side note, it really is more difficult than I suspected to sex them (specially the 3 smaller ones)! I think I got almost eveything wrong in my first assessment, except for te dominant female.
The bigger one (11") is very very likely a male. Once it started to settle and opened its fins it was clear that the dorsal fin is much wider than the dorsal fins of all the others. I would say it is ~1,5cms (1/2") wider than the one of the dominant female. He is also the calmest of the group.
As regards the other 3...(all between 7 and 9")
-the smaller (7") one that is getting along with the male is most likely "his" female;
-the one that was previously with the dominant female (left side of the tank), I suspect also female because as soon as I removed the divider and as mentioned above it started immediately fighting with the likely small female that paired up with the male.
-the one that I firstly separated from the group (after being trashed by the dominant female), I really don´t know.
Too confusing? Anyway the current status is:
- tank with a likely pair (not to be disturbed);
- one likely female separated and solo in another tank in my place (backup "likely female")
- dominant female solo at Miguel´s place;
- 5th fish solo at Miguel´s place.
