(possibly) Breeding Ptychochromis Oligacanthus

[nadajdui]

I've been watching two Ptychochromis oligacanthus in my 32 gallon tank for a few days. They're very small still, the biggest barely being 2 inches long. One of them has gone very dark, almost black. Charcoal grey almost. The other has developed an orange stripe across the top of its dorsal fin, this just this morning. I found them both at the bottom of the tank, as though looking for something, sort of milling around, going in and out of the nearby flower pots. It looks like one is trying to clean one of the flower pots off. The largest one will sort of charge sideways and sidle up to the other one, then back off again. Very cool! Yesterday they were lip locking and 'facing off' a lot, and chasing everything else away from them. This is my first realy experience with cichlids of the same species in one tank, so I'm excited regardless of what it's about lol.

 

[Ferris]

Good for you - as far as i know, they are still classed as an endangered species (although not high risk).

How sure are you of their id? The Ptychochromis genus is very often mis-sold and difficult to identify, fish from the same species can have almost completely different colouration.

Would love to see some pics of the little guys.

 

[nadajdui]

I got em from a friend in Victoria, so I'm 100% sure that's what they are. Check out pics in the gallery!

 

[Ferris]

Great pics and lovely fish.

Keep us posted on any breeding developments.

 

[nadajdui]

This morning one of my plants has been uprooted, and another is nearly there. They've been digging little gravel pockets around the flower pots, spitting it all over the place. They're hunkered down there now, but I can't see any eggs. So maybe they haven't spawned yet, or they're in the flower pots? There's no one to bother them, either, aside from neons, so the interaction between them is pretty constant. I'll try and post some vids today after work.

 

[Ferris]

Sounds very promising - you're spoiling us with vids.

 

[nadajdui]

Well, I think the male has officially evicted the female you all saw in the pics. But now he's trying to court the smaller one! You'd think he could make up his darn mind lol. I'm not really sure what's going on now, other than the fact that the male is spitting gravel everywhere and creating big holes all over the right side of the tank.
Okay, scratch that, I just looked and now he's working on the middle. Why??? Why? I had everything so nice and flat and tidy, and then he had to come and ruin everything. Sheesh, these fish make me laugh!

 

[nadajdui]

The male is really beating up on the female. Not sure what to make of it, they were getting along fine before. Should I relocate her to another tank or leave her? No life threatening injuries, but I'm a little worried.

 

[Ferris]

Difficult to tell, things can get a little rough when breeding cichlids

I would keep a close eye on things and only seperate them if you have to. Don't hesitate though if things get serious.

 

[nadajdui]

I put in some pepper cories, and things have calmed down. Hopefully things will go back to 'normal', as in they start courting again and not trying to kill each other!
Thanks!

 

[nadajdui]

I'm confused! The male Ptychochromis oligacanthus 'evicted' the female, and now they don't seem interested in spawning at all, and now the other one, the smaller one (I think a male) is allowed around as well. But the female is still in breeding colors. Cichlids never cease to amaze me, but they sure can be confusing!

 

[nadajdui]

Wow I'm amazed! I saw something bizzare. The female was lip locking and fighting with the smaller male. And then the big male suddenly showed up and wriggled his way between them, splitting up the fight. He did this several more times! lol, sorry it's just exciting. Don't mind me!

 

[xweeqtx]

D'you know, I know nothing at all about Cichlids but I keep checking back on this one lol!

 

[nadajdui]

lol, I don't know a whole lot, either, but I think I'm addicted to the silly things. Their behavior is really fascinating, plus they're just beautiful . I'm mostly just learning as I go. It's been pretty quiet in the tank, but the big male is sure growing quickly. Can't wait to see them full grown. Does anyone know how long it will take for them to mature?