Apistogramma trifasciata sexes?

[stormhawk]

It's more of them harassing the Otocinclus.

Usually they are tolerant of Otos in the tank, but do give space for the Otos to hide. Sometimes the Oto might come and join in eating with the Apistos and it's usually fine. But this doesn't apply if there's a female guarding fry/eggs, or a male that is in breeding mood.

[foxngn]

hahaha... ic.

Btw, from what i know is, when the female is guarding their youngs or egg, it will frequently chase out the male from her territories. Does this behavior of chasing will happen even if the female is not yet mating/breeding... female chase the male or via versa?

As i checked, one of them the tail had been bitten off a bit..not sure is the male or female already.

[stormhawk]

It will happen, for the chasing part. But technically, until they spawn, their aggression is limited to control over spaces in the tank, and food source. Especially if you habitually place food at a particular corner of the tank only.

You should look out for signs of excessive aggression by either fish. Sometimes in small numbers, they'll bully each other and the weakest one will never get enough to eat and eventually waste away and die.

[foxngn]

Oh...crap, then i need to take a good eye on them first... also need to move their hideout far away a bit, since i put them quite near to each other.

btw, only the male will develop the shiny blueish color all over its fins when growing to adult right ?


All this while, you been helping me much, i should announce you as my "sifu" already, Storm Hawk.

[stormhawk]

Haha I am no "sifu". Just sharing what I noticed amongst my own fish.

Yes only the male will develop the shiny blue colours. The females may have a little blue markings on their cheeks, but that's usually it. When they are not brooding, for trifasciata at least, they are extremely drab. My female is a fairly large one, and she is usually dark greyish brown most of the time. Only when she is guarding fry, like now, then she turns super yellow, and I that is when I find her pretty.

I have 3 larger fry growing up pretty fast and I know I have a male among them. Even at a size of 2cm, they are already territorial and the male is constantly flaring against the 2 smaller siblings.