FoggyPants
New Member
- Messages
- 4
- Location
- West Sussex, UK
Hi,
I had a rather unfortunate inccident the other day. In June last year, I bought a pair of A. Viejita's. Well, I say that. The shop, Maidenhead Aquatics, advertised them as Viejita's but having read more in to this on the net recently, it sounds like there have not been any imports of Viejita's to the UK for many years and they are more likely to be Macmatseri.
Anyhow, I rather stupidly fed them when I got home late and tired and forgot to slide the lid closed. I've had issues with my Tetras taking a leap of faith, but this time the male Apisto seems to have done it. previously I've found the dead Tetra on the floor, but I suspect one of my cats noticed the male and had a late night snack. The pair were very happy in the tank and did have an attempt at breeding once but the eggs didn't appear to survive. I've since given them more places to hide away etc so was quite gutted to find him gone.
After much searching, I found another branch of Maidenhead Aquatics that had one lone male advertised as a Macmasteri. They were unsure of which variety of Apisto it was but guessed at Macmasteri and when I compared to a photo on my phone of my old male the markings and fin shapes etc were identical. This male was a little less coulourful, the main body being more grey in colour where as my old male had more red overall. Happy with my find, I introduced him to the tank. Whilst in the bag floating, the female came up and appeared to give positive signs as she did not raise her fins, she started to get up close and roll on her side. However, after the water was aclimatised and I released him, it all changed. Her fins went up and she just constantly chased him and pecked at him till he coward away hidden in the plants, he was gasping very hard as well. I had to go out so thought I'd leave it as it was and hope that things would settle down.
Upon my return I could not find him anywhere and the lid was on so he could not have jumped. I eventually found him laying flat on the surface under a leaf. I thought the worst and assumed him dead but as soon as I moved the plant, he swam a bit, quite cautiously, but steady. I decided to move him from the large tank to my smaller tank with Blue Tetra and he is now swimming about happy as larry. I can get some photos tomorrow of the two, but what I'm trying to find out is whether introducing a male to my female should bring on such a nasty reaction from her? I know females are territorial, but is she missing her old mate and sees the new male as an enemy? Am I too quick in introducing a new male, might they get on if I give it some time as the old male has only just departed?
I'm certain that he is a male and I'm sure they are the same species, whether that be Viejita or Macmasteri so technically he should be chasing her, not her trying to attack him? Luckily I have the second tank and he is a great addition to that community.
As I say, I'll try and get good quality photos tomorrow and post them up.
Pete
I had a rather unfortunate inccident the other day. In June last year, I bought a pair of A. Viejita's. Well, I say that. The shop, Maidenhead Aquatics, advertised them as Viejita's but having read more in to this on the net recently, it sounds like there have not been any imports of Viejita's to the UK for many years and they are more likely to be Macmatseri.
Anyhow, I rather stupidly fed them when I got home late and tired and forgot to slide the lid closed. I've had issues with my Tetras taking a leap of faith, but this time the male Apisto seems to have done it. previously I've found the dead Tetra on the floor, but I suspect one of my cats noticed the male and had a late night snack. The pair were very happy in the tank and did have an attempt at breeding once but the eggs didn't appear to survive. I've since given them more places to hide away etc so was quite gutted to find him gone.
After much searching, I found another branch of Maidenhead Aquatics that had one lone male advertised as a Macmasteri. They were unsure of which variety of Apisto it was but guessed at Macmasteri and when I compared to a photo on my phone of my old male the markings and fin shapes etc were identical. This male was a little less coulourful, the main body being more grey in colour where as my old male had more red overall. Happy with my find, I introduced him to the tank. Whilst in the bag floating, the female came up and appeared to give positive signs as she did not raise her fins, she started to get up close and roll on her side. However, after the water was aclimatised and I released him, it all changed. Her fins went up and she just constantly chased him and pecked at him till he coward away hidden in the plants, he was gasping very hard as well. I had to go out so thought I'd leave it as it was and hope that things would settle down.
Upon my return I could not find him anywhere and the lid was on so he could not have jumped. I eventually found him laying flat on the surface under a leaf. I thought the worst and assumed him dead but as soon as I moved the plant, he swam a bit, quite cautiously, but steady. I decided to move him from the large tank to my smaller tank with Blue Tetra and he is now swimming about happy as larry. I can get some photos tomorrow of the two, but what I'm trying to find out is whether introducing a male to my female should bring on such a nasty reaction from her? I know females are territorial, but is she missing her old mate and sees the new male as an enemy? Am I too quick in introducing a new male, might they get on if I give it some time as the old male has only just departed?
I'm certain that he is a male and I'm sure they are the same species, whether that be Viejita or Macmasteri so technically he should be chasing her, not her trying to attack him? Luckily I have the second tank and he is a great addition to that community.
As I say, I'll try and get good quality photos tomorrow and post them up.
Pete