A. Trifasciata Sexing (LARGE PICTURES)

[esarkipato]

First, sorry about the huge photos. All the better to see them with :hihi:

I've got a "pair" of these fish.....the shop owner claims they are a pair but I'm not so sure....I had them in a 10g together (I know, too small ) but there was too much aggression from one to the other. The smaller fish would just hide all day, not eat much.

Also, Fish A as shown below is not eating much....I think he/she is just picking off peices of algae or small food from plants. She does eat BBS I hatch and feed, but this can't continue forever....any suggestions?

FISH A

FISH B

What do you think? both Males?

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, all the photos are of males. Females don't have extended dorsal fin spines, nor the red tips.

 

[esarkipato]

Thanks. I suspected that. That's the second time I bought a "pair" from this guy...it's kind of frustrating. I guess you really just have to form your own pairs to be sure.

 

[Lisachromis]

To many people a pair is two fish of the same species. That's it. It happens alot at club auctions. The newbies assume a pair means a breeding pair. I'd rather they just say "2 fish" or "2 males" or "2 females", and not a pair of fish as it's rather misleading to say the least.

 

[Mike Wise]

Thanks. I suspected that. That's the second time I bought a "pair" from this guy...it's kind of frustrating. I guess you really just have to form your own pairs to be sure.

I'm afraid that what you experienced is not uncommon. I don't expect a pet store worker to know everything about every fish in the store, but if the fish are as easily sexed as adults as A. trifasciata, I would expect them to know the difference. Your best defense is knowledge of what you are buying.

 

[esarkipato]

Your best defense is knowledge of what you are buying.

And a great return policy! The guy is very, very knowledgable and I don't think he was trying to screw me over, so it must have been a mistake. In any event, he will take them back for sure.

Can I put, say 4/5 juvie apistos in a 10g and expect to form a pair? too small a tank?

 

[Mike Wise]

Yes, you can do this. Once a pair forms, however, the tank will be too small for all of the fish.

 

[esarkipato]

Sounds like this is the way I should do it...Thanks!