Firemouths

[Mosdefenante]

today after i put some feeders in my tank i looked in the tank and noticed 2 of my fire mouths "kissing" and like spreading there gills, is this a sign of some sort? should i put them in a seperate tank if so?

 

[Ferris]

Sounds like 2 males fighting, keep an eye on things and if its persistent, spearate them. It may settle down if they establish a pecking order and one of them becomes sub-dominant.

 

[Mosdefenante]

Sounds like 2 males fighting, keep an eye on things and if its persistent, spearate them. It may settle down if they establish a pecking order and one of them becomes sub-dominant.

thanks ill keep an eye on things, it looked pretty cool i wish i had it on film hah

 

[kubora666]

wrong. it COULD be males fighting,
its more likely its a male and female, i have a breeding pair of firemouths, and every now and then between batches of fry they will lock lips testing their strength, soon after this they produce more fry.

 

[Ferris]

It certainly could be a mating ritual, that is not uncommon with cichlids. FM's are easy to sex so the answer should be found by observing the 2 of them, if they are of the opposite sex, it is more likely to be a mating issue. If they are both male or both female it is more likely that they are establishing who's the boss.

 

[Mosdefenante]

what ways are there to tell the diff between male and female FM's?

 

[Ferris]

The easiest way is to look at the dorsal and anal fins, the males are longer and more flowing. Males also grow to a larger adult size than females.

 

[Mosdefenante]

alirghty thanks

 

[england]

thats more than likely the mating ritual............my male n female done this for over a week just near to the end you notice a white tube pertruding from base of fish between fins under carrage,,,,,,male tube is long and very fine were as the females ive noticed to be stumpy n quite large but at the end of it i had eggs......female looked after them for 2 days then as some started to hatch male ate em all..git...but this was there first time..........so see what happens next time..........good luck if thats what your after....you need slate rocks and bogwood for them to decide where they want to lay the eggs,,,,,having they been digging numerous pits in the gravel?? also listen to ferris on sexing