My Female Krib Looks Different...

[wolfwolf]

Okay I have a male and femal pelachromis Taenatus (Bad spelling). They are wild caught and I have had them for 4 weeks. They have been fine in my tank. Initially the male and female were both doing a little shaking thing that I think was a mating dance. After a few days the female stopped the dance. There were no eggs. Since then my male, who is 2 times bigger than the female, has continued doing the shaking display. I have not seen the female answer. Today I find my female cowering in fear and trying to stay as far away from the male as possible. I notice that her coloration has changed. The purple belly is almost gone and she has a very pronounced black stripe from head to tail. The rest of her is a shade of yellow. What is going on?
She seems to be hungry and still bullies the other fish in the tank, just not the big male.

She also has some sort of wound on her side. It looks like a difference in coloring about 3/16" in diameter. I did drop some gravel (1/4" in diameter) back in the tank yesterday. Could a piece of gravel cause a bruise?



What should I do?

 

[kribensis12]

No, gravel cant do that. I need Pic's. Kribs cant change sex. I am guessing there was a disagreement adn the male dosent want the female in the tank anymore. SHaking can either be a mating dance or a threat.

 

[wolfwolf]

I'll try to get a picture. If they had a disagreement will I have to remove one or the other, or will it pass.

As I type this the male is stalking the female in my tank. She stays on the top 1/3 of the tank which is very unusual.

 

[kribensis12]

I would remove the male and get a new one. If she is at the top part of the tank it is becasue the male wont let her be on the bottom level, and she is probably really stressed.