orchid/fridmani dottyback in groups?
- Thread starter skraj011
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rachenbrazil
Member
Orchid can be kept in small groups if tank have vôos rockwork and it is advisable to put all at same time. A friend of mine add in his 300g tank 8 small ora orchid and they get along in one large colony in one side rock formation interacting without agressions so far. This colony is living together for over a year and is is a nice view for sure.
Here is something that happened to us last week: I acquired a group of nine, very large tank raised fridmani. They had lived together peacefully for over a year in a sparsely decorated tank. Now, I've kept them together in 700+ gallon tanks with little or no problems, but I was still amazed to see them living communally like that in a smaller tank. So - I bring them back and put them in a smaller quarantine system, (but with more hiding spots) and guess what happened - yep, had to isolate every single one of them because they started tearing into each other!
Jay
Jay
In smaller environments, stick to pairs. I wouldn't really recommend harems of them, unless the tank is large. Same goes for the sankeyi, indigo, neon, springeri, flavivertex, etc.
A lot of the more aggressive pseudos, sometimes will kill their mates, when kept in pairs. And most of the large ones, need a big tank for a pair, and usually it should be a species tank.
Check out this cool vid: http://vimeo.com/6161531
A lot of the more aggressive pseudos, sometimes will kill their mates, when kept in pairs. And most of the large ones, need a big tank for a pair, and usually it should be a species tank.
Check out this cool vid: http://vimeo.com/6161531
Bax
Premium Member
I've kept a pair in a 75, 120, back to a 75 and they're about to go into a 100. There was a TOTM once with 11 in a 120 g or smaller, I forget the size? But, it wasn't huge at all. They need tons of cover. And will allways bicker, the most harmonious relationship you can hope for is fueding neighbors with benefits, but the interactions is great to watch. A pair introduce at the same time should do great in a 125. Mine spawn every couple of weeks.
that tank is AWESOME!
Monkeyfish
Active member
What is considered a "large tank" for this type of fish? I have a 180 FOWLR to be that is awaiting fish! Would these dottybacks get along with butterflies and/or a blue spot angel?
Vili_Shark
New member
P.fridmani lives in harems in the wild.
You will always see them in groups.
Its also easy to seperate the males by its longer find and females are more rounded.
In tanks they will also do good as small groups, but they need space for that.
Are you getting wild or captive bred?
You will always see them in groups.
Its also easy to seperate the males by its longer find and females are more rounded.
In tanks they will also do good as small groups, but they need space for that.
Are you getting wild or captive bred?
i hope to get captive bread. Have you bred these guys?
Vili_Shark
New member
they are always breeding in a quality tank.
you will see the male going after the females all day long.
Bax
Premium Member
I've not had the opportunity to keep more than two in a tank yet. But I will as soon as I get a 180 or larger set up. I'm on my third pairing.
Adding one to an established fish is possible 100% of the time, but takes patients. The new fish needs to be smaller, but not too small. Supend the new fish in plastic jar in plain view for at least a week until the established fish stops acting homicidal. While these are "passive" dottybacks, they are dottybacks to each other, and they are tough little bastegeas.
I've found that if one is etablished it will become a male, the smaller fish added later will become female. If the established fish is a mature female, it's less likely to turn back to male, and it may take longer for them to pair. If the new fish is too small to be sexually mature it may get harrased until it is sexually mature. If you add two the same size, at the same time, they will need time to sort out who is in charge. Like clowns they can flip sex to siut population requirements when still young. I'm not so sure from my experience they flip so easily once mature.
Mine spawn constantly. Once eggs are produced the female runs off to forage and the male tends the egg cluster in a cubby hole. The eggs hatch often, but I've yet to set up a rearing system, something I would like to do one day. They spawn ever 3 weeks or so.
I think it would be best to stick to a pair or go with a larger group of 7+. Too few in a group would cause issues and not spread the pecking order enough. They need lots of cuby holes to be happy.
Orchids have been bread in captivity for many years, so it is totally unneccessary to own or seek out wild caught ODs. ORA has them but they are readily available from less costly sources.
Adding one to an established fish is possible 100% of the time, but takes patients. The new fish needs to be smaller, but not too small. Supend the new fish in plastic jar in plain view for at least a week until the established fish stops acting homicidal. While these are "passive" dottybacks, they are dottybacks to each other, and they are tough little bastegeas.
I've found that if one is etablished it will become a male, the smaller fish added later will become female. If the established fish is a mature female, it's less likely to turn back to male, and it may take longer for them to pair. If the new fish is too small to be sexually mature it may get harrased until it is sexually mature. If you add two the same size, at the same time, they will need time to sort out who is in charge. Like clowns they can flip sex to siut population requirements when still young. I'm not so sure from my experience they flip so easily once mature.
Mine spawn constantly. Once eggs are produced the female runs off to forage and the male tends the egg cluster in a cubby hole. The eggs hatch often, but I've yet to set up a rearing system, something I would like to do one day. They spawn ever 3 weeks or so.
I think it would be best to stick to a pair or go with a larger group of 7+. Too few in a group would cause issues and not spread the pecking order enough. They need lots of cuby holes to be happy.
Orchids have been bread in captivity for many years, so it is totally unneccessary to own or seek out wild caught ODs. ORA has them but they are readily available from less costly sources.
Not directly to the topic but it has been my experience that the ORA tank raised are more outgoing and not near as secretive as my wild caught ones in the past have been. IMO this is very important to me when housing a fish with such vibrant colors, always better when you can see them.
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