A Loving Relationship Gone Wrong

[minxfishy]

My male Aureus has started attacking the female, she is in hiding, but if she dare move, he goes for her, he's bitten her anal fins and taken off some scales, not sure why he suddenley started this.

Could it be because he wants to mate again and she doesnt, they still have all the fry in the tank with them which are now just over 4 weeks old.

Should I remove him or leave them and hope they sort it out, I dont want to split up a breeding pair, but am concerned for her safety.

 

[Tropical_Decade]

I had 2 keyholes last year, they started mating/breeding behaviour, but then after about 2 days she wasnt interested and he started really hurting her. I didnt want to break up a possible breeding pair so left nature to take its course. The next day he had killed her, and a day later he died himself

 

[lordofthesea]

you'll definately need to separae her. he won't let up for a while - as Tropical_Decade shows he may kill her if you don't separate them.

 

[minxfishy]

OK, thanks guys, will move him to another tank until the babies are rehomed them re-introduce them.

 

[snowflake311]

Who is watching the fry?? Are they both?? Or are the fry on their own?

Because as you know I had a simular thing happen. It turned out my male was eatting the babies. Once I took the few fry that were left out all whent back to normal and they are back to fliting again.

I would move the fry.

 

[minxfishy]

Both were watching the fry still, no eating or aggression towards them, he was just chasing her and nipping at her fins and wouldnt leave her alone, Ive removed him to another tank and left Mum with the fry. Moving them isnt an option right now, couple more weeks and they will up for sale, once they are all gone, I will re-introduce the Male to the tank, or possibly put the female into the tank the male is now in, depends how well the babies sell as to whether I want another batch.

 

[meguro]

Have you tried adding target fish in there to distract them from each other?

 

[minxfishy]

No, as I dont want the babies eaten and its not really large enough tank to cope with dithers as well.

 

[meguro]

Forgot about that. For future, perhaps you could try having dithers in the spawning tank, and have a second tank setup to move the fry/eggs to when necessary. And see how that works out?