Y. Nigrolineata -video- fighting for rang or flirting?

[wasserscheu]

Managed to get a video done of two Y. Nigrolineata (at least that´s what I guess... more pics to follow later).
One had eaten quite a bunch of bloodworms and one slimmer one seems to confuse her big stomach with beeing gravid...

... or just fighting for rang?

What I never saw before, was loaches fighting for 2 hours, thats how long those 2 were engaged...I was wondering about their energy already before, when more of them just were playing

I only have them since 1.august. ... 5 of them, some not even one inch in lengh, the 2 shown in the video are a bit above 1" in lenght.

I have another video, showing them more pushing each other side-to-side via tails, rather than biting in gill area...

Thanks for any "analyse" of their dance.

[Graeme Robson]

Given the size, this really answers the question. I see them just fighting for dominance with the full bodied one showing more of a stance on the matter. These are most likely two males.

[wasserscheu]

Right, the size... was quite unobservant of me I´m still not sure wether they are sid´s or actually nigrol´s, I´ll try to get pic´s postet soon to get help on clarifying that question...

Thanks Graeme for looking into it.

[Martin Thoene]

Great video. Obviously, they have greyed out so the markings are ill-defined. I think they are nigrolineata though.

I see that you have a Stiphodon species goby in with them. Very nice fish. Have you ever seen it eat anything? I have one left from 4 that I used to have. She only ever grazes off of rocks. Never seen her eat anything in 3 years.

Martin.

[Graeme Robson]

Martin has a point. With them grayed out the markings are indeed ill-defined. The thinner one is defiantly a Y nigrolineata and the fuller one looks like he has a bit of Y sidthimunki in him. But my first thoughts are Y nigrolineata with them both.

[wasserscheu]

Thanks again Graeme&Martin... I´ll be back with pic´s with normal coloration, Martin is right the faded during fighting...

Martin, re the Stiphodons... please give me a little time and I summarize all my obswervations ... some male learned to eat Bloodworms, female does not, some eat flakes - some only graze on the flakes. All seem to eat small size plant-garnulate... they are not ignorant and try all kind of food, but seem not to know what to do with it...

If there ever were some interest I´ve more footage on those 2 crazy guys...

[Graeme Robson]

With my Stiphodon sp's i've also noticed that they will eat the odd bloodworm but they tend to graze for the most part. One of mine below.

[wasserscheu]

Martin, I was digging this picture out, took it a while ago. Perhaps during feeding it´s necessary to switch off the filter ... re the granulate, its important that it is small really tiny, bloodworms are almost to thick, these Stiphodons seem to have a strong and big mouth (using for defence), but perhaps a tiny throat... they struggle swallowing, so I keep it as small as less than the diameter of small bloodworms (3/4mm). They are smart and learn quick where food is deposited, they try the food, but not always succed eating it. They even try catching when floating, but can´t.

I´ll get more pic´s ... but may take up to 2-3 weeks ...



Full size (click again on linked pic. to enlarge):
http://www.loachtank.org/albums/userpic ... phodon.JPG