Big problem with A. panduro aggression

[jose_vogel]

Three months ago, I bought 4 A. panduro who came as contaminant in a bag of A. baenschi.

They´re two males and two females. First, I put them in a 28"x16" tank (long x wide). The tank had 6 small pots, 1 piece of wood (20"x4" aprox) and a lot of java moss. In two days the bigger male (2.4") killed the smaller female (1.2"). After that, the bigger male "dance" with the female and she turned a bit yellow and the bigger male tried to kill the other male, so I separate the smaller male and leave the new pair alone with 2 Nannostomus sp.

After 15 days (no visible spawn) the female turned pale and the big male began to damage the female. I separate all the fishes and put them in 3 different tanks with some Nannostomus sp.

Now, the size of these fishes are: 1 male of 2.4", 1 male of 1.8" and 1 female of 1.6".

Six days ago, I had five non-working days, so I decided to put the smaller male (1.8") with the female (1.6"). In two days, the male lost his red line of the tail (and almost half of his tail).


So, the problem is this:
I want to breed them (there´s no A. panduro in my country)
I can´t put the big male with the female because the male tried to kill the female
I can´t put the small male with the female because the female tried to kill the male


Any suggestions?

 

[bigbird]

Morning,

I have Panduro and they are more aggressive than other apsitos. I originally placed them in a large 5ft community tank, till they paired off and only then did I seperate the pair that formed. Maybe this would help you, put them in a large tank with other fish ?
cheers jk

 

[lab]

I would isolate the female to a tank of her own with proper water conditions (soft, slightly acid) and feed her well for a couple of weeks. If healthy she should by then be full of eggs. Then introduce the larger male while watching carefully. They should produce a spawn shortly after. If the male is getting a beating or harrassing the female, remove him again and let the female tend the spawn alone.

A. panduro are a bit picky about partners, but I think you have a fair shot at it this way

Lars

 

[apistobob]

Try creating a very complex environment with infinite hiding places. This can be done by adding a lot of leaves to the tank or with very dense plantings. In this type of habitat a fish can completely hide to avoid aggression. the first step is to create an environment where both sexes are int he same tank without serious damage. This will then allow them to pair up and spawn when they are ready.

Bob

 

[Mike Wise]

As Lars says, A. panduro is very choosy about partners. If not a perfect bond, the weaker fish usually is attacked. Try all of the methods suggested first. If none work, then try this:

First separate the 2 fish with a grid-like partition in an aquarium. Next place only 1 cave with the female that is near the partition. The cave opening should face the partition. This allows the 2 fish to see, smell, & display to each other without actually being together. If the female is ready to breed, she will lay eggs in the only cave available (the one close to the partition). The male can fertilize the eggs from the other side. I have been successful using this method in the past with more aggressive apistos.

 

[jose_vogel]

Thanks to everybody.

I will try your suggestions.


Mike: very good trick!!

 

[Mike Wise]

This trick is not mine. It is used for large, aggressive species all of the time.