Laetacara curviceps

[Woody]

I have five Laetacara curviceps in a 20 gallon. Clay pots, rocks, plants java moss. When they think I'm not looking, 3 of them darken up and square off, fins flaring, the whole nbit. Will try to post a picture. The other two stay off to the sides.
I take it these 3 are the males squaring off for territory, please correct me if I am wrong, and that the other two are the objects of all the aggression.
The question I have is multi-layered. Should I remove two of the males, leaving the single male with the two females to naturally pair off.
Or should I remove the two males and one of the females, placing a pair in another tank by themselves. Thus having two pairs and a bachelor.
Will they pair off peacefully and breed? Or should I try another method? Any experience with curviceps would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Woody

 

[Apistt_ed]

. Should I remove two of the males, leaving the single male with the two females to naturally pair off?
Or should I remove the two males and one of the females, placing a pair in another tank by themselves. Thus having two pairs and a bachelor.
Will they pair off peacefully and breed? Or should I try another method?
Thanks

Woody

Hello Woody...

Ok, this is tricky because everyone has their own experiences with curviceps, but IMO, I'd let it happen naturally. And by that I mean to let the whole group pair up/off naturally. I have kept and bred curviceps for who knows how long and I have come to the conclusion that they do best if you did let them all pair off as they see it when they sit it fit. I have tried to separate them into one male one female pair in one tank and that led to them not getting along as well as the ones I let pair up naturally. In my opinion, in a 20 gallon, it may be that they could be males squabbling over the females, but as I have found out also, it could just be that they are fighting for the "best" spot in the tank(territorial confrontations). Your tank being a 20 gallon long, I believe is a little cramp for 5 of them. If you do leave them to pair off naturally, their pair bonds will be stronger IMO. Curviceps being what they are, it can be tricky to positively sex them. When you do see two fish collectively squabbling and driving off the rest, the chance that those two are a pair are far greater than putting a male and a female in a tank and hoping they get along well enough to spawn for you. I've pretty much found them to be picky with their partners too. Also, how long have you had them in that tank? If the time isn't that long, they may just be trying to establish heirarchy in the tank also. I say leave them as is. If the fighting gets to the point where one fish is severely injured, which rarely happens, then move them... but if not, there's nothing wrong with what they're doing... after all they are cichlids! best of luck... john