Justmeingardner
Member
- Messages
- 32
- Location
- Gardner, MA
Am new to keeping apistos, been reading about them for years, but nothing replaces first-hand experience. Was wondering if anybody has seen this or is it unusual?
Have 3 female A. aggasizi with one male. One female spawned once with said male, but he ate the eggs. This was a few days ago. Other 2 females were added since. There is little sign of any more imminent breeding yet.
Yesterday, I watched the original female, wearing partial breeding coloration, which for her was a golden belly mostly (these are all young fish, females about an inch, male about 1 1/2", likely first spawning attempt). She very slowly and methodically rubbed her belly over the side of a small clay flowerpot, at one point doing a complete 360 degrees while maintaining belly contact with said flowerpot. She doesn't seem to particularly favor that spot otherwise (was not her previous spawning site), but it seems the male tries to keep the 2 newer females in that corner.
So, do fish "mark" there territories? Was she releasing hormones while rubbing on flowerpot? To be certain, this was not "flashing" or scratching, it was VERY slow and deliberate. Anybody ever seen female apistos behave in this manner? Fascinating fish, that make me want to tear my hair out at times...lol.
Have 3 female A. aggasizi with one male. One female spawned once with said male, but he ate the eggs. This was a few days ago. Other 2 females were added since. There is little sign of any more imminent breeding yet.
Yesterday, I watched the original female, wearing partial breeding coloration, which for her was a golden belly mostly (these are all young fish, females about an inch, male about 1 1/2", likely first spawning attempt). She very slowly and methodically rubbed her belly over the side of a small clay flowerpot, at one point doing a complete 360 degrees while maintaining belly contact with said flowerpot. She doesn't seem to particularly favor that spot otherwise (was not her previous spawning site), but it seems the male tries to keep the 2 newer females in that corner.
So, do fish "mark" there territories? Was she releasing hormones while rubbing on flowerpot? To be certain, this was not "flashing" or scratching, it was VERY slow and deliberate. Anybody ever seen female apistos behave in this manner? Fascinating fish, that make me want to tear my hair out at times...lol.
Still, trying not to anthropomorphize, these are the only conclusions I can reach. Anybody ever seen similar?
