Green Terror

[Proxo]

Hello people, nice forum too

I've had 2 female and 1 male green terror for about a year & a half or so now (I'm 100% sure on there sex too), The male breeds with both females.

Just recently i seen him and 1 of the females doing there normal breeding show offs.
The female not long after went to her normal spot (inside a sunken battle ship) and started throwing all the gravel out as normal, he started going in the ship and after about 3days they randomly stopped and the tank went back to normal. Another few days later i notice him showing off infront of her again but this time she'll attack him & even sometimes they've locked lips.

I've heard that if there is more then 1 male per a tank the female and male will lock lips to see who is the stronger male to breed with, could this be somewhat similair thing with 1male and 2females?

Just wondering if this is normal as they've never done it before!!

Thanks ahead

P.S The tank size is fine too, i check that info before i buy the fish!

 

[Verminator89]

First off. Hi, and welcome to the forum Now onto your post...


As with alot of cichlids (certainly bigger ones) a failed spawn attempt can bring some arguments into effect. Almost as if they blame each other i think. My Jack Dempseys did something similar few months ago after a failed spawn. They faught furiously to the point where my larger male was beaten down by his smaller female. I had to separate them with a divider for a fortnight to let things cool off, they've since been fine.


I would hazard a guess its something very similar with yours. I shouldnt overly worry about it, however i'd keep an eye on it to make sure one isnt taking a particular beating. Separating them may bring them back together in the long run. Then again it could just be a temporary scuffle between the two. Wel all know how temperamental cichlids can be. Often resembling more a stroppy teenager and their experiences with romance


Does your GT get on with the other female still, or is the aggresion just with the two?

 

[Proxo]

Thanks for the quick reply & thanks for the info, i feel abit more relaxed now lol.

The 2 female terrors normally get along fine, once in a blue moon they'll have a little lock of the lips but 90% of the time they do fight it's just the old puff of them gills out and stare at each other until 1 of them swims off, they only really do that if they get in each others way or terroritary though.

The male gets on fine with the other female, i've just now seen him trying his thing on with her. Could this be another reason the female of the failed spawn is been aggressive towards the male too, you think?

EDIT: I just noticed you have an electric blue jack dempsey as your avatar, would i be right to say your comment was about them?

 

[Verminator89]

fish are intelligent, so in some respects yes. It could be a jelous attack on a cheating male. Although IMO i don't think fish have that much inteligence to distinguish that much. Obviously a paired couple will stake out a territory and defend this. It could be as big as the entire tank, or a section of the tank - you mention the sunkern ship being a regular place. If i read your post right are you suggesting slight jelousy from the female who failed with your male and resents the fact he's trying it on with the other female now Who knows how fish work and how clued up they really are. I'm sceptical to this personally.


If you say your male happily and readily breeds with both and there havnt been issues before then it seem it could be coincidence they're fighting now. Either way one female failed with the male and someones got the hump so tensions are going to be high in their untill it calms down over time (or by intervention).


The problem with intervention is your not guaranteed to get back to the same harmony you had before because it disrupts the balance they have established emongst themselves. So theres a slight risk in that sense, its better they work it out themselves...and hopefully they will.


Ultimately there are no end of possibilities that could have caused the tiffs you are now experiencing, i do believe it is due to a failed spawn that has caused this. The lip locking is going to be normal, just keep an eye on your fish and make sure one doesnt take too close a beating. My male Jack got battered by a 5-6" female, he's an 8" EBJD, he had torn lips, scales hanging off, the lot

 

[Proxo]

Hahaa, hopefully females in the fish world aint as jealous as females in our world then or i've got problems!

Thanks for the info mate, i'll keep an eye on them and see how things go.