Ivanacara Bimaculata Female behaviour

[apistonoob99]

My bimac. Male and female were kept in 2 separate tanks for growout. Today i introduced the female to the male tank. The male us showing interest and chasing after the female with the flaring dance. But the female is acting like its trying to bite her, sprinting here and there with clamped fins. I havent noticed any aggression from the male so far.
Should i separate them again?

 

[apistonoob99]

Update: the male and female both "gone missing". I think theyre somewhere in the backdrop 'driftwood+bolbitis' prop.
The male is seen occasionally out and goes to hiding shortly after.
Any suggestions what do i do. Shall i search for the female and put her back in her tank?

 

[MacZ]

Patience.
If that goes on for 2 days, move the fish.

 

[apistonoob99]

So ill have 2 days to act. Phew!
Thanks.

 

[anewbie]

I doubt you will have to move them - i have a group in a 65; they have bred several times (though the eggs aren't hatching) - to be honest it is the female who is more aggressive and tend to take charge but overall i have found this species to do little damage to each other.

 

[apistonoob99]

I doubt you will have to move them - i have a group in a 65; they have bred several times (though the eggs aren't hatching) - to be honest it is the female who is more aggressive and tend to take charge but overall i have found this species to do little damage to each other.

Actually initially the female was very aggressive and used to drive the male away. To the point it seemed like the male was getting stressed then suddenly the roles reversed and the male started chasing her and bite her too, she started swimming to the top, so i separated her for few weeks and introduced her again today.

 

[apistonoob99]

I doubt you will have to move them - i have a group in a 65; they have bred several times (though the eggs aren't hatching) - to be honest it is the female who is more aggressive and tend to take charge but overall i have found this species to do little damage to each other.

Does aquarium size affect their behaviour. Both of them are in a 35g tank right now. With few cenepa tetras

 

[anewbie]

Does aquarium size affect their behaviour. Both of them are in a 35g tank right now. With few cenepa tetras

Size does seem to impact behavior but a 35 gallon - assuming it is not too tall - should be plenty large.

I've been moving my various species of apisto to larger aquariums and have noticed improved behavor as the area space increases. Sadly this limit my space for aquariums but i've been quite happy with the reduced aggression.

 

[rasmusW]

Hmm… this could also sound like courtship behavior. If both parents are hiding and it’s mostly the male that comes out, now and again.
I would see if I could spot them in the tank and look for clear or whiteish eggs, within the next couple of days.

-r

 

[apistonoob99]

Hmm… this could also sound like courtship behavior. If both parents are hiding and it’s mostly the male that comes out, now and again.
I would see if I could spot them in the tank and look for clear or whiteish eggs, within the next couple of days.

-r

Since past 2 days ive spotted the female just thrice , and the male was chasing her and she would swim in the opposite direction fins clamped.

 

[rasmusW]

It would be easier to give feedback, if you could take a few pictures of the tank and fish showing this behavior.

-r

 

[apistonoob99]

Had to compress and split the video in order to upload.

It would be easier to give feedback, if you could take a few pictures of the tank and fish showing this behavior.

-r

 

[apistonoob99]

She's not seen for hours once she goes in the wood. Thats the male in this video.

 

[anewbie]

Had to compress and split the video in order to upload.

I think this is normal my vague memory is they behave a bit like kribs in that until the pair forms there will be chasing. However i don't recall any real damage and it is normal for them to hide for period of time to 'rest'. I would say they should settle down in a couple of weeks. Also do you know if she is sexually mature - does she have a pink thingy on her underside well developed ?

 

[apistonoob99]

Had to compress and split the video in order to

I think this is normal my vague memory is they behave a bit like kribs in that until the pair forms there will be chasing. However i don't recall any real damage and it is normal for them to hide for period of time to 'rest'. I would say they should settle down in a couple of weeks. Also do you know if she is sexually mature - does she have a pink thingy on her underside well developed ?

Yes it seems like shes sexually mature. Shes close to 2inch in size and the vent is very well visible.

 

[rasmusW]

I couldn’t see all the videos, but the one i did see, I couldn’t spot anything alarming.
So i guess my advice is to just be observant, but it feels like you already are.

Actually (second thoughts), if any of this is stress related, i’d try to add some floaters or something that gives shade from above.
My pair spend most of their time in “safe zone”.

-r