Polardbear
Fish Addict
Yesterday I did a w/c on my 55 gal tank and noticed that Big Red, the red lyretail male was looking a little ragged around the edges and had a couple of white bumps at the base of his tail. Some of his fins looked a little frayed and he also looked a little skinnier than normal so I decided to move him to a seperate 10 gal tank to monitor him. While chasing him down I saw that Lucy, the red lyretail female and his best friend, also had a couple of white bumps at the base of her tail (but no fin damage). Everyone else in the tank appeared normal except for my black lyretail female and a couple of young black swordies that were developing melanoma tumors. So I put Lucy and Big Red into one small tank and after some serious soul searching decided to put down the group of black swordies with the tumors (they were really bad). 
Miss Lucy of course was quite outraged at being down sized to a 10 gallon tank and has been throwing a temper tantrum ever since. Big Red on the other hand seems quite happy at the opportunity to have some quiet time with his favorite girl and has been glued to her side hoping she'll get over her outrage and pay a little attention to him. She seems a little more settled today and while still pouting a bit is getting her normal additude back (which means Big Red can forget about getting any action). Lucy can be quite a little terror if she doesn't feel like being bred, none of my other males even try to go after her, they usually stay well away from her and leave her to Big Red. Big Red seems to be the only male she has any interest in and then it's only on her terms!
Back in the 55 gallon tank, Reuben, the resident black swordie male suddenly seemed to realize this afternoon that he had all the other ladies to himself and has been having a very busy afternoon. He seems to be determined to breed each and every female of breedable age today. However, with Lucy suddenly out of the tank, the other girls seem to be more intent on figuring out who's in charge now. Leah, my jumbo pineapple girl, normally a very mild mannered girl who gets along well with everyone has decided that she wants the promotion and has been attempting to put all the other girls in their place while eluding Reubens attentions. She has taken up residence right in the center of the tank and nips at anyone that so much as comes within 4 inches of her. She's being especially nippy towards Nicky, a black female, who normally is one of her friends. Nicky has had enough of Leahs additude and is challenging her back and poor Reuben has been chasing after both of them! I hope they get this sorted out soon or I may have to bring in Meri from my 75 gallon tank to restore order (nobody messes with Meri).
After watching all this drama for a few hours I finally got around to doing a w/c on the 75 gallon tank and rounding up some newly developing males that are going to a new home. The 3 young boys decided that they didn't want to leave and I finally had to pull all the plants out of the tank to capture them. Once I had all the plants out I discovered about 25 new babies that appear to have been born in the last day or two! It would appear that Terrel, the black male swordie in that tank, has been quite busy as well and apparently more successful with his ladies than Reuben. This is at least the 4th batch of fry I've found in the 75 gallon that Terrel has obviously fathered! I haven't seen any babies born in the 55 gallon for a couple of months now but I suspect that may change now that Big Red is vacationing and Reuben doesn't have any competition.
Just thought I'd share my swordie soap opera with you all!
Miss Lucy of course was quite outraged at being down sized to a 10 gallon tank and has been throwing a temper tantrum ever since. Big Red on the other hand seems quite happy at the opportunity to have some quiet time with his favorite girl and has been glued to her side hoping she'll get over her outrage and pay a little attention to him. She seems a little more settled today and while still pouting a bit is getting her normal additude back (which means Big Red can forget about getting any action). Lucy can be quite a little terror if she doesn't feel like being bred, none of my other males even try to go after her, they usually stay well away from her and leave her to Big Red. Big Red seems to be the only male she has any interest in and then it's only on her terms!
Back in the 55 gallon tank, Reuben, the resident black swordie male suddenly seemed to realize this afternoon that he had all the other ladies to himself and has been having a very busy afternoon. He seems to be determined to breed each and every female of breedable age today. However, with Lucy suddenly out of the tank, the other girls seem to be more intent on figuring out who's in charge now. Leah, my jumbo pineapple girl, normally a very mild mannered girl who gets along well with everyone has decided that she wants the promotion and has been attempting to put all the other girls in their place while eluding Reubens attentions. She has taken up residence right in the center of the tank and nips at anyone that so much as comes within 4 inches of her. She's being especially nippy towards Nicky, a black female, who normally is one of her friends. Nicky has had enough of Leahs additude and is challenging her back and poor Reuben has been chasing after both of them! I hope they get this sorted out soon or I may have to bring in Meri from my 75 gallon tank to restore order (nobody messes with Meri).
After watching all this drama for a few hours I finally got around to doing a w/c on the 75 gallon tank and rounding up some newly developing males that are going to a new home. The 3 young boys decided that they didn't want to leave and I finally had to pull all the plants out of the tank to capture them. Once I had all the plants out I discovered about 25 new babies that appear to have been born in the last day or two! It would appear that Terrel, the black male swordie in that tank, has been quite busy as well and apparently more successful with his ladies than Reuben. This is at least the 4th batch of fry I've found in the 75 gallon that Terrel has obviously fathered! I haven't seen any babies born in the 55 gallon for a couple of months now but I suspect that may change now that Big Red is vacationing and Reuben doesn't have any competition.
Just thought I'd share my swordie soap opera with you all!
