Frontosa Habits?

[doresy]

I know that both male and female Frontosa develop a pronounced forehead and that eventually the male's grow larger.

I have always thought that my larger one is male (a tad over 4")but I am unsure. It often sucks up gravel and deposits it a fair distance away until it has exposed an area of the glass bottom. I suppose this could be a sleeping area or a nest.

Would these habits make it a male or female. I have a second Frontosa brought at the same time/size but has remained much smaller and without a pronounced forehead. I also know that this may be a female or subordinate male. The larger Frontosa pays absolutely no attention to the smaller one whatsoever.

It seems no threat nor attractive to the larger one.

Any suggestions to sex?

The lager (male?) Top one in this photo (The other one has been re-homed)

The smaller one but around the same age (photo taken about a month ago, fins now much better!!)

 

[jollysue]

I would have no problem IDing the larger one as a male. The male is digging his nest, hole, home, whatever. The smaller is likely a female. The larger is no doubt dominating the small one. Make sure she has lots of places to scoot to and hide. Her fins look to me to be badly nipped and shredded from the second picture. As the male matures he will dart and nip and generally dominate her. If she submits she will follow him to his prepared place and they will mate. When he is in the "mood" it seems to me that the male gets more aggressively attentive. It depends on the species when they mature to mate. What size tank are they in?

Actually, I see your tank has lots of roomy knooks for her. Pick up another female if you can.

 

[doresy]

The fins are now perfectly fine on the female and the nipping was from another (now removed) tank-mate. As I mentioned the male doesn't pay her any attention whatsoever.

The tank size is 4 foot (as in signature) so they wont be in there for too long anyway. Will grab another female if I see one locally.

 

[jollysue]

I have no idea then about his behavior, but he certainly looks like a pre-adult juvie male to me.

Why did you keep the male with the broken stripes and not the other?

I am sure you will enjoy the fronts in the proper tank. They are called the "Gentle Giants." If there is lots of activity from the other fish, it could have the guy's attention, keeping him focused on the more active fish.

 

[doresy]

Ha, you are observant! Well, I know that photo doesn't show it very well but the other was the larger and more aggressive and the one I kept was and still is a real chilled out fella which suits my tank!

 

[jollysue]

Lol Gotch. I think I would like that too.