Hemichromis Fasciatus

[5Spot Junkie]

Update!!!
I currently have 2 WC males and 3 WC females (including OG female). Widow (OG Female) is divided in a 90g with the biggest male I have. Just tried to pull divider after a month, looked promising for 5min. Male started acting loco with her. She let him for a few min... That was that. Dood was running for his life.
I'll have to look into shipping this summer. Maybe we can get you a pair down there. Would be nice to have pairs around for emergencies.
Keep us updated!

 

[lunsforj]

I'll try and get some pics up tomorrow. Lights are off now. Currently my smaller one has almost completely healed except for the bottom fin ray extending from its caudal peduncle. They both are growing pretty fast. I actually might try and take the divider out tomorrow as well. Depends on how brave in feeling.

 

[5Spot Junkie]

Let the other fully heal. The dominant one is sending you "please take the divider down" vibes. If they're opposite sex, they will start clearing around the divider and color up. How big are they now?

 

[lunsforj]

Well I was super busy today and didn't get to pay much attention to them. The smaller one is probably 3.5 inches and displaying a lot of color. It is basically terrorizing the 4 1/2' of tank space. The larger and divided one is still growing strong but doesn't display it's colors right now. It's probably 5 inches and is starting to beef up. I'm sure if it had free reign on the entire tank it would color up, but as long as it is still growing and the littler one seems happy I am going to leave them separate.

One question I have is at what minimum size can these guys breed at? Right now it seems I have a very mature fish and a very in between fish. Both fish are dominant on either sides of the tank but don't seem interested in each other.

I added some sizable syntodontus eupterus to the tank to maybe draw some fire from all the aggression. So far they have taken some hits but haven't seen to mind to much, as they are avid feeders.

 

[5Spot Junkie]

Try to be patient. They will go towards the divider and hang out there for a couple days. If they don't do that and you take it down, it'll be war again.
Mine have always been around the 4" mark. Female was always more colorful.
Here's my first spawn from there. Probably around the size yours are now.

 

[lunsforj]

Ok, here's where we're at. Patience is a virtue of which I have little of. Despite better judgement on my part and Will's, I decided to remove the divider last night. The larger fish immediately dominated the whole tank. It's aggression wasn't as ferocious as before but was directed quite strongly at the smaller fish. I literally watched them for over an hour straight and decided to let it go overnight. This afternoon the smaller fish was cowering in the corner, so I broke out the divider again. The fish are separated once more and will remain that way most likely until they show interest in one another.

On a second note, thank you Will for posting that video. It's actually very helpful because it appears my smaller fish is actually smaller than yours was when it started spawning. This makes me feel as if I need to condition this fish a little more, if in fact I do have opposite sexes.

 

[5Spot Junkie]

Ok, here's where we're at. Patience is a virtue of which I have little of. Despite better judgement on my part and Will's, I decided to remove the divider last night. The larger fish immediately dominated the whole tank. It's aggression wasn't as ferocious as before but was directed quite strongly at the smaller fish. I literally watched them for over an hour straight and decided to let it go overnight. This afternoon the smaller fish was cowering in the corner, so I broke out the divider again. The fish are separated once more and will remain that way most likely until they show interest in one another.

On a second note, thank you Will for posting that video. It's actually very helpful because it appears my smaller fish is actually smaller than yours was when it started spawning. This makes me feel as if I need to condition this fish a little more, if in fact I do have opposite sexes.

LOL!! I know it's hard not to try right? Trust me, I only know what I know cause I've been exactly where you are. Multiple times. Not sure if you have a smaller tank but, if you do, remove the bigger one for 2 weeks and take the divider down. The smaller one will grow quite fast. If you decide to do this, make sure you put the divider back up prior to adding the "bigger" one back in. Keep divider up for at least a week. If they are opposite sex, they will gather at the divider and start clearing their sides.
To back you're not in WA. I have a spare female around 3.5"

 

[lunsforj]

LOL!! I know it's hard not to try right? Trust me, I only know what I know cause I've been exactly where you are. Multiple times. Not sure if you have a smaller tank but, if you do, remove the bigger one for 2 weeks and take the divider down. The smaller one will grow quite fast. If you decide to do this, make sure you put the divider back up prior to adding the "bigger" one back in. Keep divider up for at least a week. If they are opposite sex, they will gather at the divider and start clearing their sides.
To back you're not in WA. I have a spare female around 3.5"

Hey Will, where are you in Washington? I'd be tempted to drive up if it's within reason and happy to compensate you for your fish.

 

[lunsforj]

Oh and I did what you said and removed the larger fish completely and placed it in a 10 gallon tank.

 

[5Spot Junkie]

Hey Will, where are you in Washington? I'd be tempted to drive up if it's within reason and happy to compensate you for your fish.

In in Federal Way. I do have a buddy with some fry as well. How big are your fish?