Texas Pair

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Feb 21, 2004
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I was out to the pet store the other day, just kinda browsing around for some idea's. I didn't have my heart set on buying anything in particular. I wanted some fish of size and of color. I have a 55gal tank and neons and such just disappear in there. I was considering oscars, terrors, firemouths, etc. I happened to glance in the texas tank only to see that one of the fish was badly beaten and battered, almost dead. As I watched, there was one fish bullying all the others and had them cowering in a corner. It would swim out, bite a fish, then swim back behind a rock. I got my head in such a position so I could behind the rock, and there was another fish behind it. Except this one wasn't being attacked. Then it occured to me...duh! I asked the salesman to move the rock for me. When he did a ton of eggs came swirling out. I pointed out the pair that I wanted and bought them. At least I know I got a pair that will breed. I think it's been hard on them to be moved during spawning, but hopefully they'll adapt and breed again.

Being new to cichlids in general, is there anything special I should know about these fish? I've been reading on the internet...it seems they'll take a variety of different foods and water conditions. So far, they seem to be loving they're new home. Is there a type of algae-eater that they won't bother? Maybe a large common pleco? Is it recommended to have just the mating pair in a tank? Or could other cichlids be put in with them?
 
For one, your 55gal won't be able to to keep both of the fish for life... eventually the male will turn on the female... then again it's possible that you have a very solid pair that will get along for life.

Things might get dicey if you moved a pair when they had eggs laid...I'd keep a close eye on them...one might blame the other for the loss of the eggs!

You won't be able to have any tankmates in there with them... once they get to full size, they will not let anything threaten their spawns. You could try a bristlenose pleco...make sure it has lots of hiding spaces.

As for water conditions... I'd say 76-80F for temp...clean water, lots of filtration... they should get along fine in most normal water hardnesses. I'd feed them a varied diet...pick a good quality pellet (hikari cichlid gold and kensfish.com pellets is what I feed my CA cichlids) and mix in some fresh veggies like zucchini & cucumber once in a while. Mine also get cut up fresh shrimp from time to time.
 
Thanks for the tips :)

It does seem like the male is kinda angry with the female right now. He's bent on chasing her around the tank. I'm hoping this will wear off sooner or later.
 
Its kinda strange. They'll go for a few minutes where they almost seem affectionate towards each other, kinda nuzzling each other, then the male bursts out and nips at her, chasing her off. Her little egg depositer thingy is still sticking out and her color is very dark still. Is it possible for her to lay eggs again so soon? Or does it just take time for that egg thing to go back inside?
 
If it's just nips, then it's not a problem... my small pair of green texas don't have any spats whatsoever. It takes a couple days for the ovipostor to disappear..and I'd probably guess that the female won't be ready to spawn again for 2-3 weeks.
 
Aye, it doesn't seem like he's trying to kill her. He just nips and chases her. Every once in a while, she'll bite back, but mostly runs and hides.

Thanks for your help :) very much appreciated.
 
Well, I went ahead and seperated 'em. Although he's not doing much, if any, damage to her...he just won't give her a moments rest. So I put a grate in that water can still get through. She even fits through it, but he doesn't. It's quite humorous to watch him try though. He can through about to his eyeballs, but the rest of him just won't fit. Kinda like a fish jail I guess. She's scrounging around on her side, sifting through the gravel and looking happy, but he won't leave the grate alone...he looks rather sad, lol.
 
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