So after the thread started about Rapps Metae and diadema, I like alot of others, picked up a pair of the F1 metae. They layed eggs for the first time about 2 weeks after getting them, while in the midst of treating them for ich with high heat and salt. The eggs lasted for two days and then dissapeared over night, I assume they ate them. Ok, no big deal, they are young, they will get it right. A week ago, they laid again, they made it to wriggler stage on thursday and again in the morning, gone. Ok, better right? Well I noticed the female last night had a few nipped fins, not unusual after a spawn. Come home from work this afternoon, and shes dead, male killed her. I guess the lesson learned is, divide the male and female after a spawn, didnt think the metae would do this, but apparently so. I will be calling Jeff on monday for a replacement female, because honestly, they are a beautiful species. Has this happened to anyone else who have bred aequidens?
Potential warning for Aequidens metae keepers
- Thread starter Andicca
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This is not just metae, this is any acara. I'm talking Laetacara to Cichlasoma to Krobia to Aequidens. If a pair has a disagreement over eggs/fry, if they can't agree when they're ready to spawn, or if they're not a totally bonded pair, they can turn on each other quickly and violently. I tend to keep my pairs in community tanks now because they seem to take out their aggression on other fish and not each other.
I'm sorry to hear that you lost her. They are nice fish.
I'm sorry to hear that you lost her. They are nice fish.
I'd echo what Ryan said, and indeed, I had a Laetacara thayeri take out his female one day as well.
Thanks guys. Funny thing is, they are in a community tank. Like I said, lesson learned! You know whats really funny about this whole situation, I have a pair of red istlanum in another tank, and after they spawned, he didnt kill her, which that species is NOTORIOUS for. Well, I should probably say this time 
^ Eek, yeah, a bit small even for a small pair. All my medium to large acaras are kept in 150 communities. I usually raise them out in 55s and then move the group when they start to show signs of pairing/mating. Do you have a larger tank you can move them to?
+1 imo.
First time I read your thread, I didn't have time to post, but I was wondering what their tank size was, since that could explain it. Not just true of acara types; for example, severums or geos can have the same issues, and a larger tank with structure and tankmates makes a difference ime. Lot of pairs go through their share of spats, especially early on, but so do well established pairs sometimes. IMO they need to not be on top of each other during the process, need space, and sight breaks can also help. I knew a lfs owner who thought he was going score by breeding rotkeil sevs when they were new and pricey, so he kept throwing random pairs in breeder tanks and then wondering why all he got was fights... answer is they're different fish with different requirements than the wall of bonded discus pairs he had in 29 gal tanks in the back of the store.
Not to say tank size is the only condition that matters, but it's a factor ime.