pairing

[bushie]

g`day all,
I have read many things about discus in these forums but I may have missed some to the questions I am about to ask.

I know I should have more than two discus but it was all that was available at the time.

when I put them in the tank ( 4x2x2 community ) one harrassed the other for 48 hrs.
the one being harrassed didn`t back off and seemed to want to stay with the other all the time.

now they seem to worked out their problems( pecking order) and swim together ( even when feeding ).

I have noticed that at certain times they seem to swim to the surface together and then one will swim nose down to the bottom and then the other will do the same, following it in a headstanding position until they get to the bottom and then both swim to the surface and repeat the procedure over and over again.

I have heard of bowing, is this what is meant?

does this have anything to do with them pairing up?

or is this unusual behavior?

they are only young (9-10cm).

is there any other signs that they may be pairing and is this possible at such an early age?

words of wisdom appreciated
BUSHIE

[mcloughlin2]

You could quite possible have a pair forming...



I have noticed that at certain times they seem to swim to the surface together and then one will swim nose down to the bottom and then the other will do the same, following it in a headstanding position until they get to the bottom and then both swim to the surface and repeat the procedure over and over again. [/qurte]

Do they do this at the sides of the tank? Like ummm do they touch the glass when they do it?

If so thats just normal behaviour, but as they seem to be getting on so well id say you have a good chance of having yourself a pair...

[quote]or is this unusual behavior?

they are only young (9-10cm).

Its quite possible as discus can breed at that size and will most certainly pair up....

Refer to my sticky at the top of the page for some other information regarding pairing... :wink:

Ps: Could you post some pics?

Cheers

[bushie]

couldn`t get any pics of headstanding but here are a couple of really bad pics of them and their tankmates.
sorry about the photography.
crap camera and crap cameraman.
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/301bc7a2.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/cd2ec9c9.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/d595f717.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/2006-05-15042.jpg

and their tank mates

http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/2006-05-15033.jpg
http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/2006-05-15http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i150/bushiesline/2006-05-15050.jpg037.jpg

[Robdog]

Damn swordtails! So hard to kill!! :twisted:

[Robdog]

I didn't know damn was a swear word? Oh well fuck it :lol:

[Merrilyn]

Hello Bushie, and welcome to the forum. Glad to have you with us.

Nice looking tank you've got there :D

They still look a bit too young to be pairing off, but from their actions, you could well have a male and female.

Too early to see true breeding behaviour, but it looks promising for the future.

The bowing you mention is totally different during courtship. They approach, facing each other (not side by side) and as they come level, they both turn their heads down in a bowing motion, and swim past.