Firemouths

[smithy05]

i got a firemouth from my dad few days ago so today i bought another firemouth in the LFS all the firemouths looked black (almost like convicts) and thought they could b female cos the males are brighter yet within an hour or 2 of getting it home it changed to its normal colour so im guessing that LFS had them overstocked and stressed but now i dont know if i have 2 males or wot any help much appreciated.

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi there,

I've heard various theories, the only success I have had was to get 6 juveniles and leave them to grow and pair off naturally (this gave a pair that gave spawns of 150+ fry every 6 weeks).

Even with this adult pair I couldn't see any differences in body shape, finnage, colouration that could be reliably used to sex them.

Andrew

 

[smithy05]

ok cheers m8 they seem to get on with all me other fish anyway even my neons

 

[a.d.wood]

Ah....

Give it time, if it fits in the firemouths mouth.......

Andrew

 

[smithy05]

lol
oh with regards the firemouths all being black in the petshop is that stress?? they dont take dead fish out very often either there were even fish skeletons they left that long.


oh and my siggy below shows wot tanks i got out of all them wot will firemouths b able to eat?? i think they half a neon last nite i turned lite out for couple hours watch film put bk on and had half fish floating bout lol so i leave lights on now

 

[beechey]

ive got one very bright firemouth and one dark firemouth still not sure if it male or female

and also i woke up one morning to find a neon in there mouth

 

[smithy05]

well as much as i rather me neons lived if the firemouths eat them than they might be a useful food source as treat lol only seem to eat the neons when turn all lights out so im guessing in wild they nocturnal perhaps oh well neons for firemouth.

and regards the colour of ya firemouths from what a.d was saying mayb ya have a pair females meant to b darker but dont take my word for it im going from what i seen in books and on here LOL

 

[england]

just found this might help u http/cichlidforums.com/showthread/t-9358.html http/www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/firemouths.htm http/www.timstropicals.com/Inventory/NewWorld/index.asp

 

[smithy05]

cheers 1st link very helpful gonna be studying my firemouths fins all day now LOL good excuse to sit watch me fish all day but 2nd link says in wild they feed mainly on algae yet when i checked book at LFS it said they are canivorous and being how they ate 2 me neons im guessing the books right LOL

and 1 more thing for evry1 else would u say buying neons for my firemouths is ok?? yes i know its not ok for the neons but no diff from buying neons to feed a pirhana or wothaveya

 

[england]

pricey on the pocket............try blood worm / cut up earth worms / maybe feeder shrimp for fshop and flake food

 

[smithy05]

yeah i know its expense i wouldnt buy em neons every week mayb bout once a mth how many i buy will depend on how many the firemouths eat but i try buy enough neons for couple weeks when the fiemouths bigger cos i can get 10 neons for £8.00 or 5 for£4.00 so mayb just 5 neons once they eaten the others should b fairly cheap but the other foods i been feeding em this colour food tetrapro it got red dot in middle of flake all me predator fish seem to enjoy plus i feed em daphnia not to sure on bloodworm as was told by LFS that they can cause infection if some survive. but earthworms sounds brill. i might try find some tiny ones today.