Ornate territorial battle, photos and video

[beblondie]

I usually try to remember to use the term generaly in my posts especialy when dealing with behavior guess I just forgot -Anne

 

[Cohazard]

well, that was a pleasant discussion

it's those kind of discussions that help push the hobby further.

since both of you have experience in breeding polys, what sort of conditions will I need when they are appropriate sizes?

My plan is to keep them by themselves in a tank full of onion plants and a decent single directional flow. just going by guesses though.

any help is appreciated

 

[beblondie]

I'm betting in the sticky section the primer should tell you all you need to know and then some lol-Anne

 

[Hapdude]

I can only share with you what worked for my ornates, because basically I figured the only way they're going to do this, is if they're really HAPPY & COMFORTABLE! Both were wild caught, so I thought I better replicate what they're used to as much as possible! I raised them in a 240gal. (2x2x8), with a black plexiglass divider so they could neither see nor smell one another. The conditions stayed this way until they grew to the 16-18in. size. I fed lots of beefheart and feeders to fatten them up over time, especially the female! Mixed in red worms. krill, smelt, and they particularly liked live earthworms. I read somewhere that they became more active after the yearly rains would start, and the ponds. lakes and streams would again begin to swell with new water, new prey, and renewed exposure to possible mates! My tank had minimal gravel, several big rocks, lots of bogwood, and the surface was covered with water hyacinth. Over the course of several months I lowered the water level to about 6" and kept it there (to simulate a dry period). Less active but easier for them to catch prey. After about three months of this, I fairly quickly raised the water level back to about 18" in a two week period. The female looked to be bulging with eggs so I removed the plastic divider and let them discover each other for the first time. I didn't worry so much about the water conditions at the low level, but the new infusion of water was crystal clear and aged, so as to make a decided difference. Both times (two years apart) I got them to spawn within two weeks. Unfortunately the first time they fungused over before I could figure out what to do, and the second time I netted them out and put them in a egg tubbler, but with the same results! Best advice I have, would be to give them as much room as you possibly can, fed them extremely well (especially the female), and keep them secluded (away from other fish, lights being turned off and on, etc.) and let them tell you when they're ready! This is a somewhat simplified version of events, but I hope it helps?

 

[Cohazard]

I can only share with you what worked for my ornates, because basically I figured the only way they're going to do this, is if they're really HAPPY & COMFORTABLE! Both were wild caught, so I thought I better replicate what they're used to as much as possible! I raised them in a 240gal. (2x2x8), with a black plexiglass divider so they could neither see nor smell one another. The conditions stayed this way until they grew to the 16-18in. size. I fed lots of beefheart and feeders to fatten them up over time, especially the female! Mixed in red worms. krill, smelt, and they particularly liked live earthworms. I read somewhere that they became more active after the yearly rains would start, and the ponds. lakes and streams would again begin to swell with new water, new prey, and renewed exposure to possible mates! My tank had minimal gravel, several big rocks, lots of bogwood, and the surface was covered with water hyacinth. Over the course of several months I lowered the water level to about 6" and kept it there (to simulate a dry period). Less active but easier for them to catch prey. After about three months of this, I fairly quickly raised the water level back to about 18" in a two week period. The female looked to be bulging with eggs so I removed the plastic divider and let them discover each other for the first time. I didn't worry so much about the water conditions at the low level, but the new infusion of water was crystal clear and aged, so as to make a decided difference. Both times (two years apart) I got them to spawn within two weeks. Unfortunately the first time they fungused over before I could figure out what to do, and the second time I netted them out and put them in a egg tubbler, but with the same results! Best advice I have, would be to give them as much room as you possibly can, fed them extremely well (especially the female), and keep them secluded (away from other fish, lights being turned off and on, etc.) and let them tell you when they're ready! This is a somewhat simplified version of events, but I hope it helps?

That's a great help, exactly what I was looking for, thank you!

'm betting in the sticky section the primer should tell you all you need to know and then some lol-Anne

I have read the primer and it's a good source of information, but I've never been one to say "go read the primer" and that's it lol

On top of citing good sources of information, I also have a preference for sharing with other bichir keepers directly. Some members point to the primer to answer questions and offer no other advice, which loses a big part of the hobby and this site.

For example, I could ignore MFK's polypterus forum all together and just read the various literature covering the subject of how to keep polypterus in the home aquarium, but I'd definitely be missing out by not interacting with other hobbyists about the same subjects covered in those books.

 

[Hapdude]

I think the trick is to be creative! Try different things! What works for one, may never work for another! And after all, they simply will spawn when they're ready, often times in spite of anything we do! I started back in the 60's by importing, breeding, and selling african cichlids. I once had a UTAKA species of Haplochromis that I couldn't get to spawn! I tried all the tricks I had learned, to no avail! Then one afternoon we had a terrible thunderstorm that went on for several hours. The UTAKA started spawning like crazy, and did again every time there was a thunderstorm!!!! Some how they must have sensed the change in atmospheric pressure (just my guess). So you just never know what will work! GOOD LUCK

 

[rasdbo]

i could not tell the sex of my three ornates until they were over 10" long now i know i have two girls and a boy and they all act crazy towards each other sometimes. but nothing ever serious.

 

[Dreamsofpeace54]

I find it hilarious that when there is a fight going in the tank some random tankmate will usually come over (your gt in this case). Usually nipping, joining in...too seemingly break it up.

So true. I had a Snow white socoloffi and a Red zebra (african cichlids) that would ALWAYS get into it, when my bumbleebee cichlid saw what was happening he'd rush over and kick both their butts. unfortuantly the snow white had to go back to the LFS after he killed 2 of his tankmates.