Parachromis loseillei

[dannyrobot]

I would like to breed my loisellei.
Right now I have two males but I plan on getting rid on one. I have a question about whether or not you can tell between male and female as juveniles. Also, How long would it be before she hits sexual maturity?

-DR

 

[straitjacketstar]

I lucked out with mine. I bought only two, hoping for a pair, and I got one.
It wasn't easy cause they were only about 2" at the time.
When I bought them I wanted the best chances for a pair, so I bought a nice large one that showed a good amount of pattern on the top half.
The second was a smaller one, not the smallest - only cause I didn't want a possible runt out of the batch, with more yellow and more bland on the top half of the body.
I lucked out.

This was both of them at about 3-3.5"

See what I mean about the pattern on the upper half?

It's not quite as obvious when they're young but maybe getting more than one hoping for a female will work in your favor.

 

[dannyrobot]

Yeah that silver blueish greenish pattern is what helped me confirm that both of mine are males. How Big are yours? Have you had any fry? Would you consider shipping to San Diego? LOL
Seriously though I want a female. Right now my only option is ordering from Jeff Rapps but I don't know how well fish do traveling all the way across the counrty.

Here are mine:

-DR

 

[straitjacketstar]

Sexy.
Mine are 8 and 5.5". Spawn every month or so. I never save the fry, too many tankmates. The adonis plec practically lives with them (in their piece of driftwood) as it is. lol
You really have to order from Jeff Rapps? It's that hard to find lois out there?
I don't ship, unfortunately, but I could try. I saw one shop up here selling two batches of lois, one batch was 4-5" and selling as "dovii", the other was 2-3" and selling as "jaguars" lol.
I bought mine as freddies.
I can think of 3 or 4 shops that have them right now in the LA/OC area if you're interested in taking a road trip.

 

[dannyrobot]

I might just take a Road trip one of these days. Do you mind if I send you a message some day to get info on those LFS. Yeah, I have never seen loisellei in any of the LFS I have been to in San Diego. I rescued mine from a friend that kept them for about 2 years and I asked the shop that he got them from and they were clueless on what I was talking about. My two males will be about three years old this June and are only about 7". My friend kept them and two oscars together in a 75 so I think they might be stunted.
What do you do with the fry? You should sell them.

-DR

 

[straitjacketstar]

Message away.
I don't bother saving the fry so the other fish in the tank just eat them. Many times the eggs haven't even made it to fry with the adonis plec always horning his way into the action. Soon as he finds eggs they get scraped off. heh
You males look good despite the really slow growing. Most likely stunted but I don't think it means they can't put another 2 or 3" on. Mine aren't growing terribly fast either. Mine will be 2 years old later this year.
You should ask RuckFules for pics of his Parachromis tank. A Parachromis lover's dream.

 

[shround]

We have recently had babies from two pairs of Motoro stingrays for the fourth time. They seem to like their 5000 gallon tank (UK galls). They are now being grown on in a nursery tank away from the alligator gars! If only we had a female tiger and a male Schroederi........
I'll try and post some pics.

 

[dannyrobot]

We have recently had babies from two pairs of Motoro stingrays for the fourth time. They seem to like their 5000 gallon tank (UK galls). They are now being grown on in a nursery tank away from the alligator gars! If only we had a female tiger and a male Schroederi........
I'll try and post some pics.

LOL, are you sure you posted in the right thread?

 

[dannyrobot]

Message away.
I don't bother saving the fry so the other fish in the tank just eat them. Many times the eggs haven't even made it to fry with the adonis plec always horning his way into the action. Soon as he finds eggs they get scraped off. heh
You males look good despite the really slow growing. Most likely stunted but I don't think it means they can't put another 2 or 3" on. Mine aren't growing terribly fast either. Mine will be 2 years old later this year.
You should ask RuckFules for pics of his Parachromis tank. A Parachromis lover's dream.

I will PM him and try to check that out. Hey I emailed Jeff Rapps about ordering a couple loisellei from him and he tells me that moth of mine are female.

"I think you have females there Daniel.
Adult males will definately have boldly-marked, dark
pigmentation on body, tail, and soft rays of both dorsal and
anal fins. I see haline (clear) fins on your fish.
See photo below and also shot of wild pair on my home page.

http://www.tangledupincichlids.com/images/lois3.jpg

Jeff"

I guess I am in the search of a male now instead of a female. I
I think I am going to have to trust him on that one.

New Question:
I have two females, one dominates the other. If I am looking to
breed them should I start from scratch or do you guys think I
can make it work with just getting a male?

-DR

 

[straitjacketstar]

Well he's definitely right about the lack of pattern on the fins. I thought that was funny but, shoot, I couldn't tell if they were lacking pattern completely or if they look different in person.
Would also probably explain why they're not much larger at almost 3 years old.
Either way finding a male would probably prove easier than finding a female. Pick out the largest and well-patterned specimen of a group and you'll most likely end up with a male.
I don't see why you couldn't use on of the females you have now. If you can find a male that's at least 3" I think he'd be alright even if you had to grow him out just a little bit, divide the tank for a while if necessary, still IMO lois aren't the most aggressive Parachromis. Get a couple small ones and see what you like best.