Pre-Spawn or Fighting? Video....

[House 64]

I got this pair of Barred Midas's from Jeff Rapps about 2 weeks ago and have had them in a acrylic divided tank. I noticed the females tube down and figured she might be ready to spawn so I removed the divider. The female is slightly smaller than the male but her colors are deeper and bars are dramatically darker. They've been going at it, mouth to mouth and body "slapping" eachother while going round and round. Seems to be pretty aggressive since their lips/mouths are starting to show slight wear..... are they doing a pre-spawn or just flat out fighting? My Red Devil pair are completely peaceful when spawning and are fine together.... this is a first and a first with Midas's. Input?

Video:

 

[fishfreak317]

that looks like fighting to me. but also keep in mind that the male has to make the female submissive. and being they are very closely same size, this could be difficult. so if all goes well. the male will win and dominate the female. if this doesn't happen, she will kill him.

 

[santoury]

It looks like one of those fights you see when a fish is first introduced. Is that the case here?
If so, watch FURTHER behavior, that will be more telling. This looks like just a dominancy thing that has to be worked out BEFORE anything else happens.

 

[House 64]

Well.... after about a little of this:

And a little bit of this:

There was a little bit of this:

Guess it was a success........... minus a few unfertilized eggs.

 

[fishcatch22]

Well.... after about a little of this:

And a little bit of this:

There was a little bit of this:

Guess it was a success........... minus a few unfertilized eggs.

she was just playing hard to get, you know how women are.

 

[Nova 8]

Congrats on the spawn, you'd be glad no one got killed.

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

cOooooooooooooooooolllllll!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[fishfreak317]

glad to see everything worked out. grats!

 

[quinw]

Its the ritual of love