Neetroplus nematopus

[girlvirgo]

I just got a pair of Neetroplus nematopus, first off, I was really surprised how big they get, one is about 3.5"+ and the other abit smaller.
I remember this fish to be much smaller knowing they breed at a smaller size. I was just surprised how big they get but this isn't my question. I love this fish because of how great parents they are, so when I got these guys, I was happy to put them in there own tank with a couple of large caves and dither fish 3 praecox rainbows and 8 zebra danios. Problem is, they began mouth fighting and now the smaller one is up in the corner, I moved the larger one into a breeder net till the female heals her mouth and I get a 15 gallon preped for them. Well they are in the 15 gallon and the larger one is still on the attack. I know that pair bonding did occur because the person I bought them from sold them to me as a pair but in all fairness I'm sure they were for him. How do I get them to become a pair again?

HELP!!!!! http://www.cichlid-forum.com/phpBB/images/smiles/fish_swimming.gif

[Matt Quinn]

A 15g is too small for 2 neets...

Matt

[bobrfish]

A pair bond lasts for as long as the breeding and raising of fry occurs. Once the fry are removed or larger enough to wander away from parents, the pair bond is broken. The same two fish may come together again to form a new pair bond but they may also select another mate if one is present.

The reason why 15 gal is too small is that once the pair bond has broken, each fish sets up a feeding territory that is much larger than a 15 gal tank. Each will force all other conspecifics out of this territory or kill them if they will not or cannot leave.

A pair bond can be created in a small tank such as a 20 gal long for neets but male must be removed and female must develop eggs and be ready to spawn when male is reintroduced. Even then watch the fish closely and if pair bond is not forming, remove male for another couple of weeks.

[primarypredator]

Bob's right, put the small one in first and let it goet happy and seetled, then try ading the larger one. IT might work in a 15 if you are lucky.