Help please - sexing L204 Peru Striped Panaque

[krazyGeoff]

Hi All,
Before I start can I please extend my heartfelt thanks to Janne Ekström for the comprehensive articles about these lovely cats.

I am still unable to determine the sex of some of my fish, so am posting the pictures here in the hope of some consensus. I have been looking at them for too long and am going cross-eyed.

I would like to a: attempt a spawning, and b: have no serious fighting / injuries.

If this is not quite the right forum I apologise.

There are 7 specimens in total, and two tanks. The tank specifications can be found here: http://www.planetcatfish.com/forum/my_a ... krazyGeoff
Tank 1 Subject 1 (unknown)


Tank 1 Subject 2 (Male)


Tank 1 Subject 3 (unknown)


Tank 1 Subject 4 (Male ??)


Tank 2 Subject 1 (Male)


Tank 2 Subject 2 (unknown)


Tank 2 Subject 3 (Male - Lives in a cave all the time.)


If the world is a cruel place I have 7 very expensive male fish which will not bode well for a spawning attempt, but on the other hand may also reduce the agression as there are no females to fight over.

Any comments would be welcome.

Thanks.

[MatsP]

It certainly looks like you got more males "than you need". T1 #3 & 4 does look like they could be a female, but they are still a bit too hairy for me to be confident on that.

T2 #2 may also be female.

The fish looks like they are quite small (about 70-80 mm by my guesstimate), and they may well need to grow a bit bigger to be mature enough to show their full features.

I also think it's better to discuss this in the Loricariidae section, since the species identity is certainly not at debate here. So I moved the subject.

--
Mats

[apistomaster]

I agree that you have mostly males.
I had eight and I removed males as I could tell their sexes until I was down to what I thought was a trio but one of those I thought was a female turned out to be a male. I think dominant males cause some males to repress the expression of their male characteristics somewhat.

[Janne]

You have at least one dominant male and one female...tank 2 subject 2 and 3, maybe tank 1 subject 4 (male?) is a female too. These three is a good breeding group so I sudgest that you move these 3 together in one tank and put the rest in the other tank for outgrowing. You will succeed "much easier" using only one male, if this dominant male use his cave frequently and lay with his tail outside or he is showing him self in the entrance...be sure that his cave not are moved out of position, use his aquarium for the breeding attempt.

Janne

[krazyGeoff]

Thanks you all.
I hoped that tank 2 subject 2 was a female, as removing tank 2 subject 2 and 3, broke up the fighting when there were only 6 in total and one tank.

if this dominant male use his cave frequently and lay with his tail outside or he is showing him self in the entrance...be sure that his cave not are moved out of position, use his aquarium for the breeding attempt.

Unfortunately the cave and wood got moved in my attempt to catch the fish to take their photos. That male is still at the cave now though. Although "patrolling" outside it, rather than just relaxing with his tail hanging out.

I think dominant males cause some males to repress the expression of their male characteristics somewhat.

There may be something in what you say.
Tank 2 subject 1 was purchased as I thought that "he" was a "she" as there were no outward signs of being a male. He was living at the time in a tank with no others of his kind, and plenty of bigger fish. Within a week of being in my tank #2 he was looking as he does now.

Thanks again
Geoff