Is This Breeding Behaviour?

[Michelleuk]

Hi All

Is this breeding behaviour?

I have 3 Zebra loaches. Two of them live in the fake tree stump. They spen most of their day in there happly but one has pushed the other one out. Each time the loach tries to enter the tree stump, the other one scares it away. I wondering if she/he is guarding some eggs? Or may it be a case of the tree stump is now too small for both. The one guarding the stump seems bigger? Are females bigger than males?

Thanks

 

[fluttermoth]

It's very, very unlikely to be breeding; I don't know of any cases of Botia striata breeding in aquaria. It's more likely to be simply dominance/territorial behaviour. B. striata should really be kept in groups of 5+, so if you got some more the behaviour would probably settle down, but they are a very peaceful loach and I wouldn't expect them to actually hurt each other anyway.

 

[Michelleuk]

just uploading video.

Ok - so I will get some more next time at shop. I better create some more hiding places. They can't all fit in the tree stump!

 

[Michelleuk]

http/s269.photobucket.com/albums/jj66/michplants/?action=view&current=DSCF1166.mp4


Here is a video.

 

[fluttermoth]

Aww; the poor little guy! I had to laugh
Yeah, a few more loach and some more hiding places will keep them happy; they're lovely fish; I've got one that's nearly 12 now