I have a 4.5-5" Male Honduran Red Point who is the bully of my 75 gallon tank. He isn't to aggressive he just keeps everyone out of his territory. He pays special attention for my 6.5" Female Syns. They ahve been together about 4 months. I moved the Boss HRP to another tank to allow my platinum HRP males to get some size as they are my favorites which seems to be working. The night I removed the HRP my Syns went ballistic and attacked everyone. No body was injured to bad just torn fins and bite marks all have healed over the past few weeks. Not sure what to do about the aggression so I moved the Syns in the tank with the boss HRP. The HRP is now back to nibbling at the Syns bitting at the throat area just under the jaw. Keeping the Syns in a corner. Again he isn't overly aggressive not chasing her around the tank much. Could this be courting behavior? Can they breeed?
Odd HRP and Synspilium behavior
- Thread starter Rivers2k
- Start date
Biting at throat or underside is an attempt to kill and keeping the syn in the corner is stressing the syn. It is doesn't sound like breeding behavior. I would think these two sp. could breed, but not sure if they will. Its funny, because I have a male syn and a female HRP. My tank is a 150g, and the two never even pay attention to one another. Syns are one of the most peaceful CA cichlids IMO. They are about as vicious as guppies lol.
He is not really attacking he is like pecking. But he does keep her in a corner. The Syns has no damage to her fins or anything this why I am confused. I heard they were peaceful that is why I was shocked when she went nuts on everyone in the original tank when I removed the male HRP. She shows no signs of stress here is a pic of her. She isn't with the fire mouths anymore
I also want to mention I am not trying to breed just trying to figure out the behavior and if I need to move things around.
I also want to mention I am not trying to breed just trying to figure out the behavior and if I need to move things around.
Very nice syn! The HRP may not be able to do any real damage to a larger syn. You never know with CA cichlids and what they are thinking lol. I would just keep an eye on them and see what happens. If there is no real damage then I wouldn't worry.
Its kind of a pain to have to move fish around isn't it? I have had to do this so many times. You can go years without any problems and one day a fish goes psycho for no reason.
I agree. I was having no aggression issues at all. I just moved my dominant HRP so my platinum HRP would grow more and I upset the balance. My main tank is working fine actually my Firemouth bred without the boss in the tank and everyone else is getting along. I just have to figure out what to do with these other two trouble makers. I may give it some time and see what happens.
Did the colors change on your male HRP? I've had 4 breeding pairs before and every males colors changed. The red/orange fins and tail turned blue and black stripes got darker. Also does he have a big hump? That seems to show dominance. Here are my examples:
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Mine looks almost exactly like your first pic but the hump isn't as big. Colors in the body hasn't changed except the red in the tail comes and goes. I had another with no stripes that had fins and tail that looked like flames and that also came and went. I sold him as I like them better with the stripes. I ordered 4 platinum and 2 blues, I sold off 1 platinum and 1 blue.
I haven't taken pics recently I will get some tonight. He is now on this natural colored gravel and has a bit more of a greenish tint I think it is the reflection of the yellowish substrate. These pics are from a month ago
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I haven't taken pics recently I will get some tonight. He is now on this natural colored gravel and has a bit more of a greenish tint I think it is the reflection of the yellowish substrate. These pics are from a month ago
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Nice HRPs! It doesn't sound like breeding though. Just territorial behavior.
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