Peacock ID and aggression

[Chazza404]

It seems to be breeding season my corys have laid for the first time on saturday and sunday night and now one of my peacocks is holding which is also a first.

As I love my peacocks i'll be making an effort to raise the fry however i'm slightly unsure as to what species they are - just thinking ahead and for general knowledge I thought i'd ask all of you lovely people :lol: for your thoughts, I know peacocks can be particularly difficult to ID especially when have not fully reached adulthood but we'll give it a shot.

I purchased these as a 'red shoulder' peacocks which from looking into across the internets are A. Hansbaenschi yet these look more along the line of a A. Baenschi strain with no noticable red or bronze colour around the shoulder area. My peacocks characteristics are: blue heads, majority of the remainder yellow except some black colouration at top and bottom of caudal fin (tail) and beneath the white tipped dorsal fins, egg spots on anal and end of dorsal fins between body and tip of fin.

Here is a picture showing males in different transitions of colouring up/down but gives you a general idea of the characteristics:

Or if that doesn't work give this a go and for more pictures try this album.

The current tank is 200L comprising a couple pieces of driftwood, a nice plantation of straight val, limestone rocks, pvc piping for smaller fish and coral substrate. Filtration is provided by 2x Jebo 819 which give 2400Lph - have removed sway bars as was concentrating too much flow and fish didnt appreciate it so just running the two out flow pipes at one end directed to rebound off the glass to reduce direct flow.

Fish list:

- 10x Clown Loach

- 11x A. Baenschi? Peacock

- 6/7x small E. Yellows (One in Q tank holding)

- 2x Bristlenose catfish

- 1x Pictus catfish

Previously the peacocks were in a 50cm cube 125L - I decided to move these into my larger tank so there would be more swimming area and territory also so more males could colour up without being too intimidated by the 2 current dominant males (10-11cm) - more males are starting to colour up already since the move to a larger tank.

The different species don't fight, the only quarreling is between the two dominant males - this is usually just one chases the other away to the other end of the tank and comes and goes if they're being moody or not, there has not been any full on physical contact as far as I know except the odd split fin possibly from a quick nip however today I noticed some small tears around their mouths which implies jaw locking - wondering if I should be concerned about this?

Anyways thanks for taking the time to read :bounce: :bounce:

[ryanjury]

Those look very similair to the peacocks that I got as red shoulder's from Wellington.. Any chance you can PM me and tell me where you got them from? Mine are also breeding like mad and im trying to ID them and decide what to do with them.. If they're hybrids then they might end up getting destroyed the females at least..

As for the injuries just watch them, if they start getting any fungal infections (fluffy) or white edges to fin tears (fin rot) then deal with it appropriatly its no biggie africans are pretty tough have had some come back from being bashed having no fins left lying on the bottom of the tank

[Afrikan]

Looks exactly like the fish I got from a shipment of maleri... bummer I don't have him anymore or I would try and get a decent pic to show you.

[firenzenz]

I'm with the Maleri Red as well.

Have you got any shot of females?

Are they all the same?

My baenschi females are darker grey while maleri is a lot lighter and silvery.

[ryanjury]

These fish are from the same parents as the ones I was getting an ID on if it helps