Lake Tanganyika Species • “Multifasciatus” specific tank in progress !!

[rockarolla70]

Here are some pics of the new tank taken y'day afternoon.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/109mwt1aNmh1O6-ekoGVUgGefY54IL0nE?usp=sharing

[rockarolla70]

Below is the link for the small video I have done ... pardon me for the quality, I will eventually do another video with my Digital SLR camera.

https://youtu.be/fOjsVpv_ZT4

[Iggy Newcastle]

[rockarolla70]

Folks,
This is the current layout (pic) of my multi's tank & how the real estate has been occupied by the respective multi's.

Marked area occupied by ...
1) Single male
2) Male & a female (pair)
3) Male & a female (pair)
4) Male & a female (pair)
5) Single male
6) Single male

My thought process
- I would want to remove 3 males.
- Introduce 3 or 4 females

So the ration can become 1:2 females. Any suggestions/opinions/thoughts are most welcome.

[Iggy Newcastle]

Nice layout!
IME, the extra males quarrel with eachother and any pairs. Not detrimental and entertaining. With 3 pairs in the tank now, you'll likely have plenty of fry growing up in the next few months. If you can reliably get more females, go for it. I'd predict that some of the extra females will associate with a male who already has a girl, as the males will claim as many females as he can. Basically... just don't assume that 3 more females will pair up with your single males.

[DJRansome]

Why are the single males being chased to the surface? Why not just wait for the fry to populate the tank and THEN remove males as required?

[rockarolla70]

Nice layout!

Thanks !!

With 3 pairs in the tank now, you'll likely have plenty of fry growing up in the next few months.

Hopefully I want to see some young ones.

If you can reliably get more females, go for it. I'd predict that some of the extra females will associate with a male who already has a girl, as the males will claim as many females as he can. Basically... just don't assume that 3 more females will pair up with your single males.

Exactly can't assume that the females will go with the bachelors !! Am getting 4 new females, at the same time I will remove 3 males out of tank before I introduce the females.

[rockarolla70]

Hi Folks,
Thanks for the suggestion. I introduced 6 females this afternoon from a new batch, This is how they have paired.
- Male #1 - paired with 1 female
- Male #5 - paired with 3 females ;D
- Male #6 - paired with 1 female
- Male #2 - paired with 1 female (though he had one adult female with him previously)

I will observe them for couple days & I will post my update accordingly.

One more thing I observed is ... all the new females who have paired with the males keep exposing their bottom of their belly to the male when he comes towards them. What does this trait signify ??

[noddy]

I wouldn't be to concerned about trying to get even numbers of m/f. They are not pairing fish but harem breeders.
Believe me, in a few months time there will be hundreds of them.

[rockarolla70]

Folks,
Find the attached video link where you can see the new females trait where they show their belly bottom when the dominant males comes towards them.

"New batch of multi's (female's) trait/actions"
https://youtu.be/7s8yUEDfgcE

[rockarolla70]

I wouldn't be to concerned about trying to get even numbers of m/f. They are not pairing fish but harem breeders.
Believe me, in a few months time there will be hundreds of them.

Hi Noddy thanks for the reply. I agree that they don't pair, but what I meant was these new females are in these respective territory.

[rockarolla70]

Hi All,
Have a new problem in my tank, one of my smaller female multi has some sort of infection. Can anyone throw some light on this. I have attached a picture.

Past 4 days I hardly used to see her out of the shell during day, she only used to be out in the evening and during feeding time. Today morning during feeding time I observed this problem. Help me out.

Help appreciated in advance !!

[Iggy Newcastle]

Tough to tell. Cannot really see anything. Can you describe it in any way?

[rockarolla70]

Tough to tell. Cannot really see anything. Can you describe it in any way?

I was told it was some fungal infection, before I could start the treatment with API Pimafix, the fish gave up.

[Iggy Newcastle]

Anything further on this?