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Author Topic: Male chasing female away.  (Read 2271 times)

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Offline jsutter

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Male chasing female away.
« on: January 25, 2009, 10:37:05 AM »
I have a breeding pair of convicts who hatched fry about two and a half weeks ago. Over the last couple of days the male has been chasing the female away from the fry. She is looking a bit beat up and is kept to the top corner of the tank, behind an artificial plant, by the male. The male will happily herd the fry around the tank but will chase away the female whenever she leaves the corner.

I have never really done anything with convicts before, is this something normal?
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    6" unidentified fish: Featherfin Syno (thanks Tracey)

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    Currently housing 4 snapping turtle hatch lings to be released in spring 09

Online callen

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2009, 11:31:30 AM »
I can't remember if this is normal behavior but remember a friend having the same problem.  :-\
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Offline Stormbringer

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2009, 11:38:42 AM »
maybe she got bored of being a mum and was eating the fry ?
and dads now protecting them
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Online Gerry

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2009, 12:48:07 PM »
She may have been eating the young as stated and he's been more parental
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Offline tracey

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #4 on: January 25, 2009, 01:00:00 PM »
It's pretty common in Cons for the male to decide he can do a better job than the female and to chase her away.  If you have another tank, I'd suggest moving her, as it's also pretty common for this situation to lead to the death of the female  :(  The male gets too caught up in protecting the fry and most females are a lot smaller than their mates and are simply not able to take the punishment. 
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Offline jsutter

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #5 on: January 25, 2009, 04:27:29 PM »
Thanks guys. I had a 10 gallon tank I started up to move the fry into. Maybe I will put the female in it for a week or so. When I move the fry will it solve the problem?
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55 US gallon
  10" Oscar

29 US gallon
   Breeding pair convicts

20 US gallon
    6" unidentified fish: Featherfin Syno (thanks Tracey)

20 US gallon
    Currently housing 4 snapping turtle hatch lings to be released in spring 09

Offline tracey

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2009, 09:15:40 PM »
Maybe, maybe not, it's hard to tell  :-\  Removing the fry might make the male settle a little, but it might also make him decide that he's ready to breed again, which could be extremely hard on the female given that she's already taken some punishment.  Personally I'd move her into the 10g and leave the fry with Dad until they're a little older, maybe 3 or 4 weeks, then try swapping them out to the 10g and move the female back in with the male
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Online Gerry

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2009, 09:48:52 PM »
I would go with Tracey's idea  O0
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Offline jsutter

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #8 on: January 26, 2009, 08:24:22 AM »
Thanks all. I took Tracey's advice and moved the female to the unoccupied fry tank.
« Last Edit: January 26, 2009, 09:58:35 AM by jsutter »
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55 US gallon
  10" Oscar

29 US gallon
   Breeding pair convicts

20 US gallon
    6" unidentified fish: Featherfin Syno (thanks Tracey)

20 US gallon
    Currently housing 4 snapping turtle hatch lings to be released in spring 09

Offline Stormbringer

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #9 on: January 26, 2009, 08:29:32 AM »
thats best bet lets her recover and get ready for spawning again  :beer:
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Offline Katt

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #10 on: January 27, 2009, 11:03:29 AM »
Congrats and good luck.  O0
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Offline jsutter

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2009, 09:29:01 AM »
Much delayed.

The female never survived the ordeal. She dies about 3 days after the move. The male and the fry are all doing well.
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55 US gallon
  10" Oscar

29 US gallon
   Breeding pair convicts

20 US gallon
    6" unidentified fish: Featherfin Syno (thanks Tracey)

20 US gallon
    Currently housing 4 snapping turtle hatch lings to be released in spring 09

Offline Ezekial

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2009, 09:39:04 AM »
Sorry to hear that.  :(
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Offline tracey

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2009, 09:39:55 AM »
Sorry to hear she didn't make it  :(  Male Cons can deal out some pretty nasty punishment to their girls if they get in "that mood".  But at least you still have the fry.
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Online Gerry

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Re: Male chasing female away.
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2009, 10:23:23 AM »
That's a shame  :(
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