Blue dolphins C. moorii

[Sean_O]

Hi, new to this forum. I have been keeping fish for last 20 years, OK 30 years since I was a young kid and for the last couple of years 7 tanks of Discus, but today just purchased a couple (hopefully a pair) of blue dolphins. They look quite mature and perhaps both males as they both have quite large bumps on their heads. I watched them in the LFS for 30 mins or so and they displayed no agression with each other - is it possible to sex these fish accurately - the smaller of the 2 has the largest bump and a beak like mouth, the larger one has a smaller bump and less of a beak mouth and perhaps a few more darker blotches in the body. I kow that I should keep them in hardish water with a high pH of 7.8 or so. My tank is about 90lt, with aged water and a sponge filter. Any advice on keeping and breeding these dolphins would be much appreciated.
Sean

 

[Aulonochromis]

The males have longer and pointier anal fins. If you look at a male and female side by side you will see the males extends well past the base of the tail fin and comes to a sharp point. Also males are a deeper blue.

I have one male and 2 females and one of the 2 females is pregnant every month. It takes them a while to be mature enough to breed. I had mine a bit over a year when they finally bred. Male was 6" females were 5". Once they start breeding they don't stop!

Also they need alot of tank as they get quite large. I wouldnt put them in any less than 75 gallons.

 

[Fishy411]

Dolphins belong in the Ocean

 

[Sean_O]

The males have longer and pointier anal fins. If you look at a male and female side by side you will see the males extends well past the base of the tail fin and comes to a sharp point. Also males are a deeper blue.

I have one male and 2 females and one of the 2 females is pregnant every month. It takes them a while to be mature enough to breed. I had mine a bit over a year when they finally bred. Male was 6" females were 5". Once they start breeding they don't stop!

Also they need alot of tank as they get quite large. I wouldnt put them in any less than 75 gallons.

Ah, thanks for the info. Looks like I have two males - bummer - now on the lookout for females at aquarium shops locally. They usually only stock juveniles though. Cheers
Sean