Strange Behaviour

[9murphy9]

Hi guys

My Texas cross cichlid that we talked about earlier is back to full health,He is around 6 inches now but he and my flowerhorn witch is around 3 inch have started to dig a giant creater in the centre of the tank and they have also started fighting the other fish as a unit.
The very strangest behavior came in the night i heard a lot of banging and it turns out they have shifted a rock (a 9" x 3" flat chunk of sandstone) next to the creator what would this mean ?? thanks for any help

Alex

 

[garyspence84]

Maybe there trying to creat cover for there spawn? Or there ging to use that rock to spawn on.

 

[9murphy9]

i hope not,the fry i can deal with it's the aggression,how will i know if there spawning ? and also do they spawn in the hole or on the rock ? and one last question will i have to remove the other tank mates ? there is a jewel cichlid, 2 turtles,1 spanner barb and a bumblebee cichlid (sold to me as an assorted C.A cichlid) thanks for any help

Alex

 

[star4]

Sounds like spawning behaviour, they will spawn on the flat rock and move the fry once they hatch into the pit. With the texas being a x breed I am not sure if his/her breeding colouration will be the same, but usually texas will get a black belly for their breeding colours, I am afraid I dont know about flowerhorns, but it sounds like they are getting prepared.

 

[9murphy9]

the belly is not black,when they do breed would i have to move the other tank mates ? there are 2 Mississippi map turtles (males) at around 5 inch 1 jewel cichlid at around 4 inch the barb is at 7 inch and the bubblebee is at 7 inch will they be able to live together or would the fry be eat or wore the tank mates thanks

Alex

 

[star4]

Your tank should be big enough for the other fish to keep out of the way. Do you want them to raise the fry?, if not remove and destroy the eggs as soon as they finish spawning, but most likely as its their first spawn they might eat the eggs anyway and ususally once they have been chased off the eggs a couple of times the other fish tend to stay away. As soon as the eggs are gone the parent fish usually calm down within a couple of hours. Its when you get free swimming fry the most problems start, you could put in a tank divider as a precaution. I know from my own texas they have sharp teeth, my major concern would be the maps, they wont be bothered about trying to eat the eggs or fry (have a map myself ) if if the accidentaly blunder into the parents territory, last thing you need is a bitten turtle, the shell wont be affected or most likely the legs or tail, but if the texas gets a bite on the softer parts (where the skin joins the shell and the eyes) you could have problems. I have had jewels for a short time, I know they are aggressive (those that end up here in need of a home usually stay with my map until a home is found) however I have not had one around eggs or fry before so not sure on how that one would react. Not a great help but I hope something is useful

 

[9murphy9]

thanks guys,i'll leave the fish in hopefully if it's cycled in time i can put my maps in with my angels,platies a'll just have to keep them away from the guppies.it's those darn tails,there just to interesting ,is there any fish that would disrupt the breeding process ? such as a predetory catfish ? thanks

Alex

 

[star4]

Not actually stop the spawning but the best egg eater I ever had was my black ghost knife, she would zip in and out munching eggs without the parents noticing half the time. Common plecs are also very partial to eggs, but its having a big enough tank. Shame your not close to me I would loan you my 20" gibby he LOVES eggs

 

[9murphy9]

it is a shame ,what size tank do you have for him ? i have been looking into adding another tank mate but everone i talk to says get rid of the fh he'll kill everything any suggestions ?

 

[star4]

I have two, both rescued from a 3ft tank, they have a 400l tank each now, they are great fish . I dont know anything of flowerhorns I have never kept them, only read they are aggressive. If you do decide to get rid of the FH a jack dempsey would go ok, they are placid but dont take nonsence

 

[9murphy9]

i'm thinking of it,can anybody idetifiy what sex the flower horn is is fished it out t try to get some decent pics,hopefully i can sex it now. thanks

Alex

 

[GShorty1981]

Its a female, female red dragons have black markings in the dorsal fin.

 

[GShorty1981]

Btw your tank is to small for either a solo Texas or a Flowerhorn long term mate

 

[9murphy9]

thanks ,it's nice to know it's a red dragon too thanks

Alex

 

[9murphy9]

since you managed to identify it so easily,this might be a bit harder,but can you please tell me if it's male or female please btw we only think it's a Texas because it was labeled a red Texas,but as you can see it hardly resembles a texas. thanks

Alex