Pairing mature cichlids (pearsei)

[cjdesmit]

Hey all,

I have a male and female pearsei that are both around the 10" mark. I have had the male since he was just a few inches, however acquired the female a few months ago. My intentions were to introduce the female to my male in hopes they would pair up.

They are both currently in a divided 220gal (6'x2'x30") along with a male argentea that has grown out with the male pearsei with little to no drama. I have now tried removing the divider twice with no luck. The first time was when I initially got the female. She was already stressed from the change of hands and new environment so I chalked it up to that. The other day I did a large water change and tried again. This time they immediately began displaying, however it quickly turned into some pretty serious lip locking. I let them go at it for about 15min before deciding to break it up, as they were really doing a number on each other.

My question is, where should I go from here? I understand pairing up mature fish can be hit or miss. As of now, I'm planning on letting them heal up and trying one last time in a couple of weeks. If it doesn't go any better, I'll most likely sell off the female.

Any input or suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Buphy]

I can't say from first hand experience but from what I've read, it can get pretty rough. They basically want to make sure the other is physically fit enough to be a mate so at that size it can be alittl right extreme. Maybe try a good feeding before the water change and introduction? Anyways, I'll let more experienced members chime in.

 

[cjdesmit]

Thanks for your response Buphy. I am looking to try introducing them again here in another week or so. Does anyone else have any input?

Thanks.

 

[duanes]

Is the divider the egg crate type where they can see and smell each other when separated?
Whenever any species of cichids spawn for me, I usually remove the males after fry are free swimming.
This means there is always a period of adjustment when the pair are reintroduced, and a few days of jousting the lip locking are normal.
Doesn't mean it always works in my time line though, often times the season must coinside with this particular timeline, and the female needs to be ripe and ready to spawn, if not death is a possibility.
Certain cichlids will only spawn Jan thru Mar, or when rains cause pH changes, or water levels fluctuate.
The haits below had many spawns, but each time they were reintroduced needed a few days or week of some serious jousting before things settled in.

 

[dan518]

As long there both lip locking and the female is not hiding or just trying to escape him i would let them get on with it for a few days, just keep a very close eye on them. I have a friend whos trimac and chancho pair breed through his egg crate divder there both on there 2nd lot of fry.

 

[Buphy]

As long there both lip locking and the female is not hiding or just trying to escape him i would let them get on with it for a few days, just keep a very close eye on them. I have a friend whos trimac and chancho pair breed through his egg crate divder there both on there 2nd lot of fry.

Dude that's intense... I wanna see those fry though.

 

[dan518]

sorry i mean he has a pair of trimacs and a pair of chancos and both breed throw the egg creates

 

[Buphy]

Oh... Still cool though =P

 

[cjdesmit]

Thanks for the responses guys. I expected some lip locking; I guess I just wasn't ready for the intensity as they are both large bodied fish. I could literally hear them ripping into each other and they both made out with some pretty good scars.

Duanes, yes it is the traditional white egg crate/light diffuser. I actually originally had some finer white knitting mesh over it as I was growing out some smaller Thorichthys but I have since removed that. So, they can easily smell and see each other. They rarely show any interest in each other through the divider however since the last introduction. Not sure if that's a good or bad sign?

Dan, they displayed and lip locked but the female backed down after about 10min. The male then began chasing and harassing the female. That's when I decided to put the divider back in.

This is a display tank first and foremost so breeding is not necessarily top priority, I really just wanted a compatible pair to live in relative peace as I really enjoy the personality of pearsei. If they got along and never spawned, I'd be perfectly ok with that.

Thanks again.

 

[ehh]

all i know is that this thread is in need of pictures of the pearsei you want to pair.