A. cruzi & A. eunotus fight

[Nain]

Last Sunday I bought some A. eunotus at an auction. Lacking a place to put them, I put them in with a pair of A. cruzi that I thought were not spawning in a 54 gallon heavily planted tank. Right away the two males went at each other and locked jaws and went spiralling around the tank. 45 minutes later they were still locked up and lying on their sides on the gravel. Neither was going to give up. I emptied out the tank adjacent to the cruzi tank and netted the two males. Even in the net they would not let go and I had to poke them apart. Then I got out the female eunotus. The males are very, very similar except that the eunotus' tail is redder on the top and bottom edges, while the cruzi's tail is a uniform dull red. Now the males are displaying at each other through the glass. Tonight I found out the reason for the battle. The female cruzi just led about 35 fry out into the front of the tank. They must have been at the wiggler stage on Sunday. Now the eunotus are starting their breeding dance.

When it rains it pours.

 

[farm41]

Congrats on the fry,

That sounds like quite a battle, I hope they will be okay.

 

[Neil]

Nain,
I would say that is a record for an apisto fight. I have had them lock jaws and I have seen neither back down for a good long time. But I have never seen 2 males so motivated and evenly matched to lock jaws and fight until they were both worn out and lying on the ground. And, on top of that, not giving up after they are netted. Wow!!
Good luck with the fry. I am sure they will be well protected by their fathers. 8O
Neil