FishProfiles.com Message Forums

	Yellow Labs Mating or fighting?
Davey Boy Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 8 Votes: 0 Registered: 25-Jun-2004	Now I know this may sound like a really naive question - but... How do I know when my yellow labs are breeding or fighting/trying to exert dominance. The yellow labs are currently small about 1.5" but I have noticed that a pair started to circle each other going round and round in the entrance to a cave. No contact was made and then they parted. At the same time I noticed that the other two were performing the same ritual in another cave. Are they trying to determine a pecking order or are they pairing up to mate?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
TheGoldenDojo Fish Addict Posts: 575 Kudos: 559 Votes: 8 Registered: 04-Apr-2004	Sounds like how Electric Blue Haps spawn. I think they're pairing up.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Daniel Banned Posts: 600 Kudos: 524 Votes: 12 Registered: 25-Jul-2002	does it look really aggressive like they want to hurt each other or kind of playful?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
AndyCLS Fish Addict Posts: 590 Kudos: 1584 Votes: 107 Registered: 13-Mar-2003	Perfectly normal. My labs do the exact same thing from time to time.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
amilner Big Fish Posts: 429 Kudos: 654 Votes: 0 Registered: 05-Jul-2004	So hard to tell with Africans, especially when you can't witness it for yourself. As long as its clearly not 'murderous', I'd say they'll sort themselves out fine.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Sin in Style Mega Fish Posts: 1323 Kudos: 1119 Votes: 165 Registered: 03-Dec-2003	when they circle its usually fighting. you will even notice if you watch enough that one fish perfers to swim in one direction. like boxers thier are righties and lefties heheh so they like to turn to thier dominant side. i see this all the time in my tank its a constent thing. sometimes they will face off head to head an lock up but thats only if the circles end up in a tie. not sure what the mateing looks like, may look the same never looked into it.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
just beginning Moderator Literature Nerd Posts: 1879 Kudos: 1380 Votes: 198 Registered: 17-Dec-2000	I think it's a territorial thing. When labs spawn, I believe the female nips at the male's anal fin, also the male tends to quiver. But the circling thing happens all the time in my tank, even between different species, and usually between the males. The only way to get rid of a temptation is to yield to it. - Oscar Wilde
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Davey Boy Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 8 Votes: 0 Registered: 25-Jun-2004	Thanks folks. No injuries but then again they are still juvs. Guess they are sorting out their hierachy. Will keep you posted if anything happens.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	Hey yeah mine do that somtimes and it gets quite agressive as they have ripped each others fins once but that is as bad as it ever got!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Daniel Banned Posts: 600 Kudos: 524 Votes: 12 Registered: 25-Jul-2002	Yep sounds like they ae just establishing the pecking order. Even after it is established, they will probably keep it up. Everybody likes playing hide and go seek.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	It is quite funny somtimes as they just go for it!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Davey Boy Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 8 Votes: 0 Registered: 25-Jun-2004	It certainly is interesting to watch. Can be a bit distracting sometimes as the tank is in my office so finish up watching them instead of working. Very therapeutic. Actually I notice that the levels of chasing and trying to establish dominance increases a few minutes after feeding. Then it is superb fun watching them chase in and out of the rocks.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	kool have you found out what you have 9male/female)? yet ?any way are you wanting them to breed for you? if you do you should have about 1 male to ever 3-5 females how big is the tank that you ahve them in ? do you have a lot of caves?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
Davey Boy Small Fry Posts: 11 Kudos: 8 Votes: 0 Registered: 25-Jun-2004	Currently have 4 yellow labs in with 3 socolfi (1 M/2F) and 3 lombardoi (1M/2F: I think although beginning to doubt that is what they are!! The females are very pale brown colour whilst the young male is orange fins; brown/orange stripes). All the fish are juveniles so a little early to sex correctly but the yellow labs certainly contain at least 1 male and two females. Plenty of caves in a 40 gallon (UK) tank.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
nano reefer Fish Addict Posts: 716 Kudos: 570 Votes: 3 Registered: 29-Feb-2004	Hey That is quite a big tank how lbs of rock do you have in there? yo can buy plastic rocks thatr have caves built into them iv got one my fish are always going into it they are realy cool i recomend them to you all as they are cheep and fish use them to breed. Darryle
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20
bennetkd Big Fish Posts: 452 Kudos: 36 Votes: 0 Registered: 12-Jun-2001	If it is mating behaviour, the male will slap at the female with his tail and then try to lead her to a flat surface. Otherwise, aggression and mating look very much the same. I've never seen the tail slap between 2 africans that weren't mating.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:20


	Jump to:

The views expressed on this page are the implied opinions of their respective authors.
Under no circumstances do the comments on this page represent the opinions of the staff of FishProfiles.com.

FishProfiles.com Forums, version 11.0
Mazeguy Smilies