I know there are several expert calvus keepers on here so I figured I would ask for a bit of guidance.
As many of you know I have a trio of white calvus that I have had for over a year. When I got them originally they were all the same size. 1 grew very fast, 1 grew very slow and has always been the smallest. Size wise I figure the biggest one is male and the smallest is female. They middle one is throwing me for a loop. The middle calvus has had growth spurts here and there. It is almost as big as the largest calvus and always hangs out with the larger calvus. They bicker during meal times but generally hang out together. The smallest is never with the other 2. It is actually the most out going of the three and has the best colors.
Someone in my fish club said you can tell somewhat by their fins but it's subtle. The biggest calvus has a pointed dorsal fine while the middle one has a more rounded dorsal fin. You have to have them side by side to tell the difference but it's there.
I was told the size my calvus are now they should start pairing up soon and breeding.
Recently my julies paired up and I had to remove the extras to keep them from being murdered. I'm trying to keep tabs on the genders of my calvus so no deaths occur. So far they are very peaceful with each other. There is some squabbling during meals times between the middle and largest calvus but that's it. When I had my yellow calvus they fought all the time but these don't.
I know venting is the best way to tell but these guys stress so easily I would rather not have to take them out of the tank. I don't have any pictures besides the smallest one. The larger 2 are much more reclusive. The picture is also several months old. I will try to get some better ones tonight.
As many of you know I have a trio of white calvus that I have had for over a year. When I got them originally they were all the same size. 1 grew very fast, 1 grew very slow and has always been the smallest. Size wise I figure the biggest one is male and the smallest is female. They middle one is throwing me for a loop. The middle calvus has had growth spurts here and there. It is almost as big as the largest calvus and always hangs out with the larger calvus. They bicker during meal times but generally hang out together. The smallest is never with the other 2. It is actually the most out going of the three and has the best colors.
Someone in my fish club said you can tell somewhat by their fins but it's subtle. The biggest calvus has a pointed dorsal fine while the middle one has a more rounded dorsal fin. You have to have them side by side to tell the difference but it's there.
I was told the size my calvus are now they should start pairing up soon and breeding.
Recently my julies paired up and I had to remove the extras to keep them from being murdered. I'm trying to keep tabs on the genders of my calvus so no deaths occur. So far they are very peaceful with each other. There is some squabbling during meals times between the middle and largest calvus but that's it. When I had my yellow calvus they fought all the time but these don't.
I know venting is the best way to tell but these guys stress so easily I would rather not have to take them out of the tank. I don't have any pictures besides the smallest one. The larger 2 are much more reclusive. The picture is also several months old. I will try to get some better ones tonight.
