Pair bonding 101

[brewmaster15]

Sometimes we have a pair of discus and they get along great.. they may have raised fry for us even. Then one day its nothing but fighting and if they manage to lay eggs they fight over them. What can you do? Sometimes the easiest thing is to. Split the pair up... let them rest .If there are eggs let one parent raise them.

But what if you really want that pair to breed for you. One thing to try is find them a common enemy. Cichlids are territorial during breeding... use that to your advantage.. Divide the tank and put another discus or two there. The fighting pair will generally focus on the new comers.

Here I have a pair I bred that were not happy together any more... placed a new pair next door and all of a sudden enemies are best friends lol. In this case I am strengthening 2 pairs bonds and promoting breeding behavior..

20230116_084626.jpg

[LizStreithorst]

That's my yellow eyed blue SS. Are you breeding her to a red based fish, Al?

[jeep]

I've been thinking of doing the same thing to conserve on space and sicne I have new young pairs forming. What are you using as a divider? Something solid or with holes? I've always used egg crate but not with pairs and fry.

[brewmaster15]

That's my yellow eyed blue SS. Are you breeding her to a red based fish, Al?

Hi Liz.. when I crossed the wild green to my blue snakeskins I got f1 that were either snakeskin or what looks like blue turqs/brilliant blues all with red eyes. One of those is the male in this pair.. in the pair next door the male is an f1 wild cross thats a snakeskin.

[LizStreithorst]

Do you have a pic that really show the SS that's paired to the lady I like?

[brewmaster15]

Brian its a 1/4 or 3/8 piece clear acrylic that I siliconed in. I did drill a few holes to equalize water..and that I can easily plug when theres fry.
Its not really a water tight seal though because the silicone adheres poorly to acrylic. Its why I used it though.. run a bead of caulk each side of the acrylic and it partitions but not water tight. Fills both sides same time

20230116_102056 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

[jeep]

One of the pairs I want to try this with is from the challenge fish. They're huge and gorgeous and spawn occasionally, but haven't raised any fry. Unfortunately, the female is the one that killed the male Turq she had paired up with.

[brewmaster15]

Do you have a pic that really show the SS that's paired to the lady I like?

Liz, I just took a quick pic..they are a little flustered as I just cleaned and wc'd the tank.. I believe this is male of the pair you mean. Its an F1 from wild Green X Blue Snakeskin. I have a couple of these guys that I am working with.

20230116_102849 by Al Sabetta, on Flickr

I will get better pics with my camera latter.

al

[LizStreithorst]

That pic's fine for me, Al. I can work with fry from that pair. Now my job is to get my pairs to succeed so we can do some trading.

[brewmaster15]

That pic's fine for me, Al. I can work with fry from that pair. Now my job is to get my pairs to succeed so we can do some trading.

Sounds like a plan Liz! No pressure on either of us..lol

[LizStreithorst]

Sounds like a plan Liz! No pressure on either of us..lol

Just keep in mind, Al, that I fail more often than I succeed. I don't know what happened. Once upon a time when I was new and stupid and didn't know good from not good, breeding was a piece of cake. It seems that the more I learn and the more I concentrate on a certain type of fish, the harder success gets. I'm one step ahead of you now, though. I have free swimmers .

[brewmaster15]

Im jealous! .. but fear not. Im pretty good at failing too.. but my saving grace is I always try again. Good luck with those fry!

[LizStreithorst]

I just peaked in on the pair and fry are going back and forth between them. I'm hopeful this time. I'm hopeful for success on your part, as well.

[Hicgup]

Congrats Liz. Great way to start the year.

[Hicgup]

Liz, I love this line from you: “It seems the more I learn and the more I concentrate on a certain type of fish, the harder success gets.” It may be different for different breeders, ( there is such a thing as beginners luck and a sophomore curse), but for many I think there is a whole lot of reading material between those lines.