Boys will be,... boys

This the start of, what I hope will become, a series. My Muzi gold head tank has three males. I was worried about this when I first combined all three into one tank. Fortunately, they have worked out a pecking order without anyone being stressed to death. I have to say, the interaction between the three males has been a real treat to watch. There is a definite pecking order but it seems; somewhat, flexible. The three males are always posturing, trying to intimidate each other. The interaction rarely comes to blows - just posturing and somebody backs down at the right moment.

So, in this series, I hope to capture the posturing: flexed fins and flared gills. I have to confess, that I am not happy with my lighting situation. The substrate is bright and the fish are dark. I am working on this, so please bear with me (I haven't totally figured it out yet - part of the fun I guess).

This first image has the dominant male left and the 2nd place male submitting to him at the last moment by going vertical and turning his side (his armored side I might add) to the aggressor. They were in the back of the tank and they came out very dark; so, I had to lighten parts of the image and I tried a "high pass sharpen." Let me know if you like the high pass sharpen

Altolamprologus compressiceps (Muzi Gold Head)


Russ

The Gape

Here, the dominant male "gapes" by flexing his jaw and fins erect. The 3rd place male (left) has adopted a submissive posture with fins clamped and ready to flee into the hole in that decorative log should things get out of hand.





Dominant male gaping (center), 2nd place male (right) and 3rd place male (left)

This is my favorite male (2nd place male in dominance but always challenging the alpha). He is so hard to photograph as he usually comes out too dark. Although I can't be 100% sure, I think he may have spawned with one of the females.

Altolamprologus compressiceps (Muzi Gold Head)

Perhaps my best attempt to capture his true color but not an overly exciting image as he fins are closed
I like the gold in his fins.

Thanks guys

Altolamprologus compressiceps Muzi Gold Head

This part of the series includes one of the female Muzi gold head comps. She was caught up in a war of nerves with the ever feisty, lone, F1 Lamprologus brevis (Kitumba).

She's a little agitated and starts to adopt a darker coloration (perhaps a warning???)


With the source of her agitation, aggressively, closing in with erect fins, she counters by dropping her head and flaring her gills


In your face...


Escape or securing the precious territory (a spawning shell)?
Note: she does have her tube down and is protecting a spawning site.


Hope you are enjoying the series

Russ