Bolivian Rams Sexing/Breeding

[mooman]

I have four 2 1/2in bolivians in a 10g at the moment. I am waiting for a pair to form, but have not seen any definite pre-spawning behavior. I thought I knew the sexes from watching them in the store, but now am not sure. Anybody have any advise on getting these guys to spawn? The main differences I've noticed is the shape of the tail (either pointed or rounded) and overall color. The only one I can identify for sure is the dominant male. Any help or tips would be appreciated.

 

[mummymonkey]

I'm not an expert by any means but I have just spawned this species. It's not simple to sex with any degree of confidence. Even larger fish can be confusing. However the older males do seem to have longer extensions on the caudal and dorsal fin. Tricky to 100% identify females though.

I had mine in a 12g for several weeks with no spawning activity, I added another pair and the original pair then spawned within a week. This may have been coincidence. I removed the second pair.

My water is good out of the tap at KH -1, GH - 2, pH - 7ish (varies a little)

I found them to be excellent parents, most unlike their cousins (M. ramirezi). Here are a few pictures.

http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/images/altispinosus_female_fry.jpg
http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/images/altispinosus_family_2weeks.jpg
http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/images/altispinosus_4weeks.jpg
http://www.ibrox.freeserve.co.uk/images/altispinosus_8weeks.jpg

The fry, after a slow start, are now eating like pigs and growing fast. The initial food was microworm and baby brine shrimp. This is the latest picture at just over 9 weeks old.

 

[fishgeek]

i find the shape of the ventral fin and the size of the ovipositor the most useful sexing aids

males have more tapered pointed ventral fin and little of small point in area of ovipositor
whilst females have more rounded end to ventral and large squarish ovipositor , can be retracted so may not always be evident

breeding as said needs good soft water and live foods
mine took a while to sort the raising bit and have done well since

fry are small mouthed and need attention t intial feeding, after that it is pretty easy

andrew

 

[dwarf_puffer]

help

no to hijack this thread bu tdoes anyone no which sex these fish r?

 

[mooman]

I think they're females only because they don't have very strong color. They could also be non-dominant males? Have they been in the tank long enough to color up. I've been watching mine and some in lfs and have only been able to identify the dominant male and his mate (only fish he dosn't pick on to bad). Watch for behavior and for two fish that "hang out" together

btw That background combined with the sand makes those rams look a long way from home. :biggrin:

 

[dwarf_puffer]

they usually dont hand oout with each other but...

they usually dont but when they do one is always overtop of the other

 

[fishgeek]

josh i think you may have realised in your readings that bolivians are hard fish to sex , subtle difference's that have been listed previously in this thread are hard to see in your photo

patience and observation will allow you to decide on a pair , i think water parameters have been varied for success with these guy's
i have used almost pure r/o and others have suggested harder more alkaline water has been ok for their fish

feed them well and wait
andrew

 

[aspen]

i had kept these fish for quite a while in my tapwater. (ph 7.8, gh8, kh4.)

they didn't breed, but i didn't have them in a tank that it was likely either- with larger more agressive s/a cichlids.

i think we've seen that these fish are difficult to sex. lack of or more colour doesn't mean much, there are lots of different colours. in fact, softer water will generally bring out the colours better in most s/a cichlds ime.

rick