Mating rituals, A. biv. Mundemba-style/pic update

[ruyle]

Just like with dogs, there's a certain amount of "tail-sniffing" that goes on

click on pic for larger image

Pic was taken with no flash, ISO 400, using just the overhead aquarium
lights, then PSP9 and noise reduction using Neat Image.

Hope to hear the pitter patter of little fins

Bill

[nonamethefish]

Great photo! I have never seen that as part of the mating ritual. What I see(think this is similar in most Aphyosemion and Fp. killies) would be the male kind of wiggling over to the female with clamped fins, waving them in a way to make the yellow tips stand out. Its hard to describe but you probably know what I mean.

[whuntley]

One of the most interesting parts of the mating dance is missed by most as they aren't looking for it.

Tail sniffing isn't that common, but sending puffs of water pressure by use of the fins is a major communication tool during the mating ritual. We don't spot it, usually, because the pressure puff is invisible. Watch the fins, very carefully, and you will see the pair communicating a lot that way.

Wright

PS. Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but isn't Bill getting pretty good at taking and editing fish pictures? I am a bit envious.

[keehoe]

One of the most interesting parts of the mating dance is missed by most as they aren't looking for it.

Tail sniffing isn't that common, but sending puffs of water pressure by use of the fins is a major communication tool during the mating ritual. We don't spot it, usually, because the pressure puff is invisible. Watch the fins, very carefully, and you will see the pair communicating a lot that way.

Wright

PS. Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but isn't Bill getting pretty good at taking and editing fish pictures? I am a bit envious.

Yes, Wright. I agree with you that Bill's picture is improving from good to professional. Especially when the pair are "producing".

[ruyle]

Yes, Wright. I agree with you that Bill's picture is improving from good to professional. Especially when the pair are "producing".

Far from professional, Keehoe, but thanks! Wright has been a great help
in this photo hobby, and it is a learning curve all the way! You have to
see some of the photos on Aquatic Photography Forum some time. Joseph
will tell you, there are some truly stunning photos there!

I have two female Mundemba that have colored up nicely: the middle-sized
one and baby, who is now about 1 and 1/4" in length, here's her recent pic,
same method with no flash, ISO400, etc:


The 2 horizontal bars really deepen in color to a brown-black when they
are in the mood!

I've added chopped-up blackworms every other day and it has really made
a difference in growth and weight. Some of baby's weight may be due to
her two siblings, which are no longer around So I'll be making a nursery
tank if I find more fry in a couple weeks!

Bill

[nonamethefish]

[quote="whuntley"sending puffs of water pressure by use of the fins is a major communication tool during the mating ritual. We don't spot it, usually, because the pressure puff is invisible. Watch the fins, very carefully, and you will see the pair communicating a lot that way.

Wright

PS. Correct me if I'm wrong, folks, but isn't Bill getting pretty good at taking and editing fish pictures? I am a bit envious.[/quote]

Wright/Bill: Have you guys observed when 2 Chromaphyosemion males are fighting that they will sometimes clamp their fins and "shimmy" really fast? My guess is this produces some sort of current to show the other guy how buff he is. Kind of like how a betta may whacks at an imaginary rival in the mirror with its tail.

Great photo of the female Bill. I have not seen any new fry in my tank either so I think either the female has stopped laying eggs or their is some cannibalism going on.

[ruyle]

Wright/Bill: Have you guys observed when 2 Chromaphyosemion males are fighting that they will sometimes clamp their fins and "shimmy" really fast? My guess is this produces some sort of current to show the other guy how buff he is. Kind of like how a betta may whacks at an imaginary rival in the mirror with its tail.

I've seen what you've described between my two male A. biv Mundemba as
well as other Chromos I've raised, that, and of course the "big fin show"

Bill

[nonamethefish]

Hehe, I haven't seen my fish do that in a while, but they do alot of the shimmying and also when the fish curves its body into an S with the fins at an odd angle. I think to get them to flare like in some of the photos you need two mature, evenly matched males.


Also, is that Najas in both photos in your tanks?

[ruyle]

Joseph, that's Egeria densa, or Elodea; much hardier than najas and horn-
wort, and KL uses it too If you want some, LMK, though it is probably
too cold to send right now. I throw out some every week with water
change.

Bill

[nonamethefish]

Interesting you use that in your tanks. I have enough to fill a few 5 gallon buckets outside but haven't used them in aquariums for awhile. What temperature is your tank(and while on that topic...what temperatures do Chromaphys prefer in your experience?). I noticed the people in Sg saying that the temp was too high for em. Right now the temp of my splendopleure tank is at 78...wonder if they'd like it lower.

[ruyle]

78F should be just right for breeding these. I always try to keep it between
78-80F, but sometimes let it drop a little. Need to get heaters for the tanks
in winter to maintain a steady temp. Try the Elodea indoors and see what
you think. Pretty much a bullet-proof plant!

Bill

[whuntley]

Many Chromaphyosemions are coastal, equatorial fishes and like unusually warm waters. Many of those BIVs and BITs will not produce eggs at much below 78F (26C). Some, like some SPP and VOL are from higher elevations and like their water a bit cooler (22-26C).

I think it depends on the species and where they originated. A book like Radda and Purzl may be hopelessly out of date on taxonomics, but they do give great habitat info. Mostly the species names have stayed constant, so you can figure it out.

Wright

[Scott_sg]

Bill,
How long do these fish take to reach breeding age? Mine - all 3 are about 6 weeks old and 1/3 to half an inch. They generally just sit around still in the floating plants but are more active than when they were younger. Feeding them alternately BBS and Daphnia but they are not big eaters and definitely look like they will take a long while to mature.

Hoping I can at least get a male and female from them or even better 2F 1M. Any idea how the sex ratios are?

Scott.

[ruyle]

Scott,
They are slow growing and seem to hit a plateau, then have a growth
spurt, seemingly overnight. I would say the females are breeding age
at 1.25" maybe less. The males are the showboats and are quite abit
larger than their significant others. My tanks are all heavily planted with
loads of microcritters to feed on, plus they like ground up micro pellets
by Hikari. Timewise let's say they're ready to breed in 4-6 months if
they reach the size above. Males would be 1.5-2" to be breeder size
and showing their full colors.

As to the sexes...I've read on killietalk and other lists to where it has become
a factoid (Norman Mailer's contribution to the english language) about soft acid
water yielding more males to females, and hard alkaline water yielding more females.
Dunno if true, but I have hard alkaline water
and the only baby that survived (I think she did her sibs in) is female.

In Maine I had soft alkaline water that went acid over time, and many more males
to females was the order there, regardless of specie.

I've also heard it bruited about that temp has something to do with
how the sexes will shake out. Haven't seen much of this in real life,
though.

I'm gearing up for BBS production since I hope to have some babies from
4 different Notho's.

Good luck, Scott, keep us posted on your experiences with these.

Bill

[ruyle]

Finally got a halfway decent pic of one of the males:

Click on image for larger view.

Pic was taken with my Sony DKC-FP3 using onboard flash and small
remote flash over the tank.

Bill