The baby cheni are growing

[Graeme Robson]

Calling all Cheni breeders!

At what size would these chaps become sexually mature?

[Martin Thoene]

Something around 1.5" Graeme. Look for the male tubercules enlarging.

Martin.

[Graeme Robson]

Cheers Martin.

I thought i saw female diggings with my new batch from LES..

Bit early one thinks at 1 inch.

[Jim Powers]

The young pre-adults will sometimes dig holes before they are sexually mature. I guess they are practicing for the honeymoon.

[LES..]

I thought i saw female diggings with my new batch from LES..
Bit early one thinks at 1 inch. :?:

*grin* I'm glad they are keeping you entertained Graeme :-) The youngsters will burrow and dig to hide which I suspect is what you are seeing, just wait until you see one buzz through the gravel (hard to explain what I mean by that but ours will "swim" through a thin layer of gravel, the noise is an unmistakable buzz). I can't imagine them being quite ready to spawn yet, although I suspect the oldest fry we have raised might just be getting to that point. They have become increasingly territorial in the tank and are showing strong colours. Tubercles are becoming visible on one of them but at the moment those tubercles are at about the same size as the ones on their mother. Size wise, i will have to get the ruler out to confirm, but at a guess they are just under 1.5".
Much as Martin's sexing guides have been helpful I'd wait for the tubercles to develop as that is the only way we have been able to really sex ours, when you have a male you will know about it ;-)
If I have my time line about right your lot should be getting to this stage within the next 2 months. Good luck with them!

[Graeme Robson]

Cheers guy's. Looking forward to next spring.