Sewelia, fighting? courtship?.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:26 pm

took this video yesterday, it's taken that long to upload into my PC.
i'm not sure which theyr'e doing the larger fish is not attacking the smaller but the little monkey is attacking the bigun.
my thoughts are it's a type of courtship but nevertheless it was entertaining to see, this went on for an hour or so.
please view it with no sound on, i didn't realise it was next to my pump.

look foreward to your opinions.

http://s76.photobucket.com/albums/j25/m ... V00001.flv

cheers
mick

ps if you think its good enough add it to their sp info.

Jim Powers · Post by **Jim Powers** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 12:46 pm

It looks like two males in a territorial dispute to me.
I can't be 100% sure without getting a better look at the leading edges of the pectoral fins but from what I can see, they look like males.
Also, in the spawning behaviour I have witnessed, the male chases the female about the tank. He will "top" her numerous times and try to dislodge her from a rock or the tank glass. He then attempts to "lock" fins with her and they will rise into the current flow together and release the eggs and sperm.

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:46 pm

Jim, to help you out on deciding the sexes here's the two fish that was in the vid.

cheers
mick

Jim Powers · Post by **Jim Powers** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 3:54 pm

I still am leaning toward them being males, but can't be for sure.
Check out the differences yourself and see what you think.
http://www.loaches.com/species-index/sewellia-lineolata

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 4:55 pm

sorry jim, ive studied those pics till i'm blue in the face and i still can't tell the difference, and believe me thats unusual.

mick

Jim Powers · Post by **Jim Powers** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:12 pm

Scroll down in this article for more sexing pics.
http://www.loaches.com/articles/sewelli ... ot-of-luck
Another thing that makes me think this is not sexual behaviour is that it differs from the sexual behaviour I have witnessed.
Others may have seen different breeding behaviour, but the circling and shoving are more like typical hillstream territorial battles, in my opinion.
It will be interesting to get input from others.
Also, in all the sewellia I have seen, the females are not as brightly colored as the males.

Graeme Robson · Post by **Graeme Robson** » Sun Dec 16, 2007 5:13 pm

Superb video Mick!

From the two pictures, i would defiantly say the first one is a male. Not sure on the second one though.

shari2 · Post by **shari2** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:14 am

The first one has the shoulders, and I think it could be fences on the pectorals, though not obvious.

The second one seems to have the more rounded shoulder line. A couple of good overhead shots and facing shots might help. Or underbellies.

Mark in Vancouver · Post by **Mark in Vancouver** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 12:36 am

The nasal nares appear to be a tiny bit larger in the first photo. Maybe not...

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 9:09 am

thanks peeps, now i'm more confused than ever, i'm surprised Emma hasn't said anything ?.
i'll keep studying them.

mick

wasserscheu · Post by **wasserscheu** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:54 pm

Hi mick,

I´ve watched and recorded similar, I´ll need to put it on here asap. Mine did that for more 2 hours on a piece, and finally did result in a short joining like Jim described (no egg release this time though). Imho it´s too relaxed and playfull for territorial fights (they are determined pistols and do more of the “I´m bigger than you”-thing” when claiming status). I´d call it a flirt. German reports are like Jim´s describtion of more hunting as well, but mine also starts with a bit chasing but turns into what you show.

Pooooosssibly the top one a male, as fences could be interpreted (but shoulders too round?)?

Emma Turner · Post by **Emma Turner** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:25 pm

Hi Mick,

Sorry, I must have missed this thread earlier. That's a great vid.

But....I am quite confused by it. I wonder if they are an immature pair. How big are they?

From the still pics, I think the top one is a male (evidence of fences on the pectorals - although not that prominent - which makes me think he is just maturing) and the second one looks like it could be a female although I can't be confident with this as the markings on the females are usually much more subdued compared to that of the males - and this one has quite a contrasting pattern.

When watching the video, I thought it started off looking like a territorial dispute. But then I saw similarities with the spawning behaviour I have observed with mine, such as the times when the dominant fish appears to be tenderly nibbling the dorsal surface of the other fish (this is different to the typical furious shoving and topping seen when 2 males fight). When the video counts down to around 3:40 I am convinced that the dominant fish is trying to coax the other fish up off of the substrate. This would fit with spawning behaviour, where I have seen the males encourage the females to leave the surface they are clinging to, to glide out into the open water with them where they will interlock pectoral fins and spawn.

So weighing all this up, I think you probably have a young pair.

Emma

mickthefish · Post by **mickthefish** » Mon Dec 17, 2007 7:35 pm

thanks emma,
I measured the pair just in case it was asked the male is just short of 2 inches SL, and the female or smaller fish is 1.5 inch SL.
i know the larger fish is tank bred,
but think the other is a wild one.
i have 3 from BAS and 4 from pier aquatics,
i'm still hoping to see the spotted type for one of my other tanks.

mick

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Sewelia, fighting? courtship?.

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