6 fish = 3 pairs, right?

[ccc]

So I bought 6 fish from Kenny in February: 3 red covers and 3 red heckel crosses. I posted earlier in my homesteader forum about a first pair/spawn: a Red Heckel Cross x Red Cover. They appear at the end of the video below. I managed to film this behavior the other day between the *other* four fish. At the end of the video, you'll see the original pair to the right, behind a foam separator.

After this video was taken, I placed a plastic eggcrate divider. The two red covers shown in the main compartment nearly immediately spawned. So I know for sure that I have two pairs: 1) RCxRC, 2) RCxHC. I have seen non-fungused eggs at 48 hours, but none made it to 72 hours (all eaten).

I'm wondering about the two heckel crosses. Do you think they're a pair? One of them's been pecking at that piece of tile but the other one is pretty disinterested. I don't want to get my hopes up, but the Red Heckel pair is the one I want most dearly.

https://youtu.be/fMXzOj0f76w

[danotaylor]

Since they have only spawned once you could separate the RC's from RH's to get your RH pair, then put the rest back together and see whatchya get...

[ccc]

I like that idea Dano! Are there any guidelines about separating couples? I came home today to find the pair on the right spawning again.

https://youtu.be/-K_KapIrZsU

[coralbandit]

Hey Scott how are they all doing ?
Watching the first video of the RH/RC I would have guessed the RH was a pair for sure and the RC was still figuring it out .
The RH seemed to work aggressively as a team while the RC had only the I'll guess male now defending /protecting the other .
Have you thought about using a breeding cone to possibly get better results ?