Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => Fish Species => Topic started by: Littlefish on June 11, 2018, 08:12:03 PM

Title: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Littlefish on June 11, 2018, 08:12:03 PM
Well, this is something I haven't seen before.
Two of the males stiphodons in the river tank are have a proper scrap.
I'm not sure if these ones are neon blues or cobalt blues, but both have gone very dark in colour, and things are very physical. They are putting in a lot of effort, biting each other, and their fins are looking a bit torn.
I've had a look for info elsewhere, and apparently this fight for dominance is not uncommon, but I was wondering if @Sue or anyone else with these fish has seen anything similar previously.
I'm trying to get more pictures, but it's not easy.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Sue on June 11, 2018, 08:16:08 PM
I have to say I have not witnessed anything like this, though it could be that I've just not seen it. One of the males does go very dark from time to time, but I've only ever seen him chasing one of the females.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Matt on June 11, 2018, 08:23:15 PM
Mine will regularly have little chases but I've never seen a prolonged 'battle'.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Littlefish on June 11, 2018, 08:23:49 PM
The two males have moved apart and regained some of their blue colour.
One pottered over to a young lady stiph, who was having none of it for now, then there was another very minor tussle when the boys bumped into each other again, but they seem to be keeping their distance for now.
I'll keep an eye on them though.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Littlefish on June 11, 2018, 09:30:01 PM
The boys bumped into each other on a rock, but a bit of head lifting and fin waggling seemed to do the trick and there was no physical contact. Their fins are torn from the earlier fight, so I hope they heal.
The panda garras decided to have their usual pushing & shoving session for a while, then the bulldog plecs chased each other onto different rocks, but it all seems to have settled down now.
Let's hope things remain relatively calm from now on.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Helen on June 11, 2018, 09:49:13 PM
Has the warm weather put them all into breeding mode?
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Littlefish on June 12, 2018, 08:13:51 AM
They also had a large water change on Sunday, so I guess it's possible.
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: TopCookie on June 12, 2018, 10:44:02 AM
I hope the "scrap" helps them settle and establish the right pecking order...  I find it really stressful when fish bicker even slightly...  hard to imagine a couple actually fighting...!!!  Fingers crossed they'll be ok now...
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: fcmf on June 12, 2018, 06:18:50 PM
Keep us posted, including on whether the female actually agrees to one of them pairing off with her (or whether she stays well clear of them after being unimpressed by their antics).
Title: Re: Male stiphodon fight
Post by: Littlefish on June 12, 2018, 06:33:48 PM
No fighting so far today, just the usual feeding time chaos.
The females are showing more interest in the food than the males - I can't imagine where they get that sort of attitude from.  :-[   ;D