PlanetCatfish.com

I have 4 large Ancistrus ranunculus in a 75 gallon tank. I noticed 2 of them that were covered in white blotches on them that looked like they were fighting I put them into seperate 10 gallon tanks last night and this morning they have returned to their black colouration without any markings on them. Is the discolouration an indication that they were getting ready to breed or fighting colours.

Without seeing what it looks like, it's hard to say. A photo would be VERY useful.

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Mats

That does look like fighting injuries to me - but I'm not an expert on this particular species.

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Mats

I have two not as large as yours that quite often have the same look as picture # 4 but pictures 5 & 6 is quite extreme and look stressed to me, but I am not positive without knowing what is going on in the tank.

I notice you have what could be small rift cichlids in with them that usually are not kept at the high temps. the ranunculus prefer.

How long have you had the ranunculus?

What fish are in with them?

What temp. are you keeping them at?

What are you feeding them?

In the last picture, #11 is it just the angle of the picture or does the belly look a bit sunk in on the one on the glass.

They do look to be a nice size, mine seem to be growing very slowly.

Birger

I have had them for about 3 weeks. They were in a 75 gallon with medium sized malawi.Temp is high 70s. I put them into seperate fry tanks because I thought they were fighting. I just put them back into the same fry tank together to observe them and see if they dislike each other. I think they are getting enough food. His belly doesn't look sunken but think the flash picks out the lines on him. The tank they were in has a lot of algae and I give them sera wels and vita chips. The smaller one that I think is a female and that looked the worst in the picture reverted back to allmost all black and the larger one has started to show the white blotches since I put her in with him. . I tried to get the smaller one to the front of the tank to take pictures and by the time I pushed her to the front she had started to show the markings again. It's like they can turn their markings off and on. The other two that I have remain black.