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Borellii- Male or Female & Off swim

RCC0424

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2
Wondering if I can get some help. Is this Borellii a male or female? How do I tell?
I’ve had a pair (thought m/f) for 3+ weeks. Local fish store told me I could keep them in hard water and after about a week this one started sitting in a vertical position all the time and hiding a lot. I since discovered they need soft water and have almond leaf and RO water in 20 gallon long. TDS is at 150 and temp is at 78. This guy/gal still hides a lot and swims funny. Still sits in vertical position when outside caves and is not getting lighter in color. Drags its back end when swimming. Thoughts?
 

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Mike Wise

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5 Year Member
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Looks like a young male to me. From its behavior it has a swim bladder problem. This is hard to treat. A. borellii is not really a softwater species. It adapts to most water value that are not extreme.
 

RCC0424

New Member
Messages
2
Thank you. Is it normal for the other male in the tank to try breeding still?
I suspected swim bladder and we tried to treat a few weeks ago. It seems to be swimming a bit more but still not like the other. Picture from last night.
We have very hard water. My cockatoos are doing great and spawned within a week of being put in tank. I got these guys at same time and was bummed not to see same happen.
 

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Mike Wise

Moderator
Staff member
5 Year Member
Messages
11,202
Location
Denver, Colorado, U.S.A.
Healthy male will always look for breeding opportunities. Most apistos do not form pair bonds. BTW 150 ppm TDS is not hard water by any means. I would consider it only 'moderately hard'. Many populations of A. borellii live most of the year in similar water hardness in the Pantanal.
 

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