Breeding Transcriptus: Questions

[PumaWard]

I "seem" to have gotten lucky enough to get a pair of Transcriptus even though I've only bought 2 and I bought them almost a year apart, but I would like someone more knowledgeable about them to maybe verify?

About 3 weeks ago, my larger transcriptus started tolerating the smaller one in his cave once in a while. Then in became a full time thing as they always hang out together. A week late, the smaller one began digging in similiar fashion to my kribs. He/She would take a mouthful of sand out from beneath the cave and spit it out at the entrance. Well, a week ago, I installed the 10g HOB filter, and I guessed it caused too much current for their taste. They moved to the opposite side of the tank, and now both of them are digging sand out from under their new cave. I assume that they are a pair.. maybe even preparing to spawn? The larger Juli has gotten extremely (well, not extremely but he/she is usually pretty docile and only protected his/her cave) aggressive towards my leleupis, chasing them to the other side of the tank. Anyway, at what size do julies need to be to spawn? My smaller one is probably a little over an inch, the other is probably 2.5.

Thanks for any help in advance

 

[Deb2]

Your larger julie is probably the female. Female julies are usually larger than the males. Fish vary individually as to what size they will spawn, but one inch is a little small. Julies will go through mating rituals for a while before they spawn. They are cave spawners and you probably wont even know they have spawned until you see fry.

 

[PumaWard]

Thanks Deb2,

I thought 1'' was a little too small as well (but there are always things like convicts). So, they probably are a pair then?


Thanks again

 

[Deb2]

Probably. I have J. marleri and they don't move much gravel around unless they are getting ready to spawn again. It sounds like yours are practicing. I have also spawned transcriptus but that was a while ago and to the best of my recolection they didn't move much gravel around either.