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Diz
04-30-2003, 6:41 PM
I have two rope fish which I purchased 2 weeks ago. I think ones a male and ones a female because one as 11 spine things on his back and the other has 8. The male is about a foot long and the female is about 8". The male is chasing the female around and bitting her!?
Are they trying to mate or is the male just real mean???

Thanks,
Diz
ArkyLady
04-30-2003, 7:34 PM
I never noticed my ropefish actually biting each other, but they would chase each other around and twist together while swimming around. I'd keep an eye on her and make sure she's not being injured, but I've never heard of them being aggressive towards their own species.
Diz
04-30-2003, 7:45 PM
I have seen him bite and hold on. It does not look like playing to me. I asked the Fish store where i purchased them and he has never heard of them being mean to there own spieces either??
somefinnfishy
05-01-2003, 10:11 AM
Seperate them and make sure you have it tightly covered I've lost two to jumping one even swam up the power filter them out the vent hole in the top of the filter.:mad:
OrionGirl
05-01-2003, 10:46 AM
Differing ray count probably indicates different species, not gender.
C'Man
05-01-2003, 12:54 PM
I second Somefinnfishy's comment. I have a collection of dried up rope fish that were found after tearing down a setup and they were behind everything. They're great to watch, but like to be "FREE."
ArkyLady
05-01-2003, 2:54 PM
Oriongirl when I did some research on ropefish back before mine dove out of the tank and commited suicide, I found several references on the net that noted the different ray numbers determining if they were male or female.

Both fish were identical in every other way other than the fin count though, Diz are they both the same exact coloring and everything?
Diz
05-01-2003, 4:04 PM
They both look the same except one is longer then the other.
OrionGirl
05-01-2003, 4:06 PM
Just a thought--in many species, ray count is essential to identification. Plecos, for example, will vary from species to species but identical within gender. Rope fish are apparently different! :)
Diz
05-01-2003, 4:22 PM
http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/greed.html
A site to show the ray count to tell gender.
ArkyLady
05-01-2003, 4:56 PM
Are they acting any better Diz?
Diz
05-01-2003, 7:04 PM
I have not seen them do it anytime soon, But i will keep an eye on them.
somefinnfishy
05-02-2003, 12:56 PM
Give them each a cave/cover not for your veiwing pleasure so they can hide from you and each other.Its a lot easier to defend yourself when only your heads exposed :D