Ivanacara adoketa pair or not?

[klaus34dk]

Im new to dwarf cichlids and i bought a pair of Ivanacara adoketa but im not sure if it is er par or same sex.
I have uploaded a video, hopefully you can tell me which sex they are.

 

[wethumbs]

Same sex or not, it is very unlikely that they will form a pair at this size. In order to get a well bonded pair of Ivanacara adoketa, you have to get a group of them and let them pair of once they get older. Otherwise, you have just two fish.

 

[klaus34dk]

Thanks. When i bought them there was at least 6 in the tank, 3 of them was standing out and with light colours and swimming normaly, the others was hiding and almost black, so they were sure the 2 i got was i pair. But for my untrained eyes they look as they are the same sex.

 

[Mike Wise]

I think what wethumbs means is that males will not accept just any female, and vice versa. A bonded pair works well in a medium size tank, but a non-bonded pair usually ends up as 1 fish.

 

[wethumbs]

Mike, you read my mind.

Ivanacara adoketa is a difficult species not because they are hard to spawn, it is because they are very picky about their mate. You are better off buying all in the tank and work out a deal as a group buy. Otherwise, you just have two fish now and later one. The dark / light color is just an indication of their mood, it has nothing to do with sex. People are sure on everything just to make a sale, chances are they have no idea how to sex the fish at that size.

 

[limchongyu]

I find that 2 can easily end up as 0 the hard way. They fight really viciously and lock lips and tore each other to shreds.

 

[klaus34dk]

Thanks for all your answers.
I moved the 2 to another tank yesterday with small Xiphophorus maculatus fry and today the male was showing off. Lots of blue colors. They went in the cave 4-5 times. So im thinking that i got lucky and got a pair
There has been no fighting between them.

 

[wethumbs]

They are not cave spawners, at least from all the spawns that have been documented so far.

 

[klaus34dk]

Yes i am aware of that. They got other options as well.
It was more to say that i might got a couple. My logic says if they can be in the cave multiple times, they must be a couple. But i can be wrong

 

[agrasso]

Mine have spawned many times in caves. Mine seem to prefer caves although they have also spawned on small flower pot bottoms surrounded by vals.

 

[Mike Wise]

Ivanacara, like the closely related Nannacara, are considered 'secretive spawners' as opposed to 'cave spawners' like apistos. The difference is how open the cave entrance is. Apistos tend to prefer much smaller openings.

 

[agrasso]

Oh, good point Mike. Mine have spawned in what amounts to a lean-to made of stones.

 

[klaus34dk]

Just to let you know. Mine is spawning right now.

 

[agrasso]

Congrats! My eggs were very susceptible to fungus. If you plan to remove them from the parents consider doing it as soon as they finish spawning and use methylene blue on them to keep the fungus down. Good luck and I hope to see some pictures.

 

[klaus34dk]

Thanks. I dont expect fry the first time. And the male is eating the eggs.
My smaller tank is occupied with dorsigera laetacara pair and their fry. Also first time but lots of fry.

 

[klaus34dk]

Forgot to update. Eggs was eaten so no fry this time. Next time im moving them to another tank and hoping it would be better

 

[klaus34dk]

New update. Now with eggs for the second time. This time im moving them in another tank
not the best picture but you can see the eggs

 

[klaus34dk]

Not good news with my pair. The have spawned around 8 times and after a day or so all the eggs is turning white. Im suspecting that the problem is with the male.

How hard is it to get a new male to pair up with the female i already have?? Is it possible??

 

[Mike Wise]

I might not be your male, but your water conditions. I. adoketa eggs are reported to be very sensitive to water values/conditions and bacteria in the water. This species occurs in very soft and highly acidic waters in Nature. Such environments don't support strong bacteria populations.

 

[klaus34dk]

Thanks. I will try to soften the water in the new year