New level of courting for these two

[MrsE88]

On Monday I did my water change first thing in the morning since I saw my female was about to lay again. While I was filling the tank I noticed a commotion.
There they were lip locking and body slapping O.O
Their normal routine has been head/body shaking and that's it. I guess they decided to turn it up a notch!

Sorry about the glare>.<It's a horrible pic. It was just a rare chance for me to have a photo showing their size next to one another.

 

[aztsm]

Nice you were able to capture that. She is so much bigger than him. My females are about 1/2" - 1" taller and longer than my growouts, and it makes me soooooo nervous lol

I know she could mess him up when ever she felt like it, and she often does leave him running with his tail between his legs. I'll really be happy when he catches up in size

 

[MrsE88]

I know what you mean. Haha. I too will be happy when they are closer in size.

Although, I am a bit less nervous now then I was when I first added him in the tank.
I think my girl has either stopped or slowed way down growth wise since she started laying. He is catching up in length, but is way behind in girth.
This was less then 6wks ago.

He was so tinny!

 

[aztsm]

Huge difference! He's growing quick

 

[MrsE88]

For a green terror he really is. I don't remember my girl growing this quick.
Does wild vs captive make a difference in how quickly they grow?

My other thought was maybe being in the presence of a large female has caused him to grow so quickly.
Either way I'm just glad he isn't snack size anymore.

 

[aztsm]

I would guess your warm water Temps are the reason for his rapid growth, and maybe what and how your feeding. Don't think wild vs captive makes to much of a difference

Could be true about the female too

 

[philipraposo1982]

my males lower jaw is permanently damaged for the fighting that happened pre spawning. I would keep a close eye.

 

[MrsE88]

philipraposo1982 I will for sure! I was able to find a new home for my jack so I have another open tank now if things get too aggressive.

aztsm I didn't think about that. Temp and feedings would make a difference.
I did turn my heater down a week or so ago to 78 so on multiple warm sunny days the tank only hits 80-82. For now anyway. I'm keeping an eye on temp to adjust as needed as summer is approaching.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

MrsE88,
I notice your female has a half white dorsal fin.
This is something I have only ever seen in female rivulatus.
All males I have seen have a full gold edge to the dorsal fin(except for white/silver saums of course)
Has any body else noticed this?

Here are some pics of my old group to show what I mean.

In this picture of one of my old females you can clearly see the white edge to the dorsal.



And again on these females



Here are some of the male from the same batch as the females,yet his dorsal remained solid gold.








And a pair together





All my females started off with an all gold dorsal fin.As they matured, the fin started to turn white.
Have others found this to be the case with their rivulatus?
It may help as a guide to sexing unpaired fish.I have yet to see a male with a half white dorsal.

Sorry for the derail MrsE88 it's just your female reminded me and a few gt keepers are active on your threads.

 

[MrsE88]

I think you might be right that it is a female trait. She has been losing the color in her dorsal fin the more she matures. It's not as white as your pictures, but I think she may be smaller then the ones you posted?

I too am interested to see if anyone else has seen this with their female rivs.