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List problems and G. zonatus
Hi,
I am a complete computer idiot so I hope I am not guilty of any of
these problems. My messages come in very readable. Sure, sometimes there is
alot of computer language around and sure sometimes people forget or don't
know to delete the whole previous message they are responding to, but I do
not see great rudeness or a loss of content. Every week there is some juicy
tidbit to ponder. If people quote too much of a previous message just start
stressing that all they need to do is quote a sentence or two to connect the
points and if the reader is really interested, he or she can run back and
look at the previous post. Simple.
I have been running a little visual experiment this week just to see
what would happen. I have some G. zonatus and hoignei both in a long 30
gallon, well planted (in clay pots) , black bare bottom tank. I have been
conditioning them for 3 weeks on live food before I got down to serious
breeding (plus I am building an incubator for the eggs). They have been
extremely peaceful together -- just a little chasing among the males and
usually directed at their own species.
Since these fish are found together, albeit in different niches in the
wild, I wanted to see how they would behave breeding in the same tank. I put
in two 8 inches deep by 6 inches across glass containers of freshly boiled,
well rinsed peat. Well, it took the dominant male hoignei (the biggest fish,
although the zonatus are quicker and more active) 5 minutes to find one
container and start going at it. The females were so fat they were pushing
him to breed. At times, he would just head for the peat to dive and a female
would automatically follow. He took over that container and would seriously
chase the other male hoignei away and with far less passion, chase the
zonatus males away. He let the zonatus females hang around but he never
courted or dived with them and they seemed to avoid him. They easily
recognized their own kind.
The dominate zonatus male of the black variety -- GORGEOUS dark body
covered in green and blue metallic -- took the other container finally, after
sneaking a few dives when the big male hoignei was away chasing.
The two sub males are safely hanging in all the plants and get chased
every now and then, but again a balance has been established.
I find it fascinating how these fish know each other and work out their
social structure. Today, everyone gets moved to their own 29 gallon, well
planted, bare black bottom tanks and their own peat. I will miss the behavior
though. It's alot more fun than just watching them breed.
They love fruit flies.
Robert E.
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