Apisto behaviour advice

[Flumpweesel]

Hi, I think I've made a stocking faux pas I picked up a very young pair of cacatuoides double red's a couple of months ago  added to the community tank and all was good. 

Anyway recently one of them has been getting its big fish colours and has become very shy the other still bright yellow loving life. I don't see much chasing but I am assuming that is why we have shy fish. Assuming they don't suffer from adolescent awkwardness. 

So reading other threads on here I am wondering if finding another female could solve this issue or if this is just the way things will be. 

Long planted tank with a lot of caves so at least hiding is easy.

 

[anewbie]

A picture helps; bright yellow on a female is usually breeding colours and she will be extremely aggressive to the male while in this mode as she cares for the eggs/frys however is she is swimming around it suggest the eggs/frys did not make it or perhaps the colours you are describing are not accurate. Adding a second female will not help; the reason to add a second female is aggression reverses when he wants to breed and she is not ready to breed.

[Flumpweesel]

@anewbieGrabbed these snaps today sorry not the clearest. Will try again tomorrow. 

Edited November 10, 2021 by Flumpweesel
Correction

[anewbie]

I think she has breeding colours; but the male doesn't look like an adult which might be problematic. What size is the aquarium and is there a place where he can hide ?

[Flumpweesel]

60gal long (in American), 230l in European.   Lots of caves, hiding spots and tunnels I'll move some things around at weekend at try to break up her territory.

They were pretty much identical (yellow) when purchased guess girls do mature first.

[anewbie]

Males don't turn yellow during breeding; their colour is pretty much static - might be two females ? Hard to see the male.

[Flumpweesel]

I'll try for better pic tomorrow but she follows me around the tank which isn't great for grabbing a shot of him. I assumed yellow was just juvenile colours.

[anewbie]

Could be but she seemed full size; is she around 2 inches? Remember females are quite a bit smaller than males.

[Flumpweesel]

Slightly better picture.  They are currently not much more than an inch . They were pretty identical when purchased.

[anewbie]

At an inch they would be juvi with juvi colouring. They can be difficult (for me) to sex at that age but in 4 to 8 weeks it should become obvious. The male should grow to 3+ inches and hte female around 2 inch.

[Flumpweesel]

Thanks , I keep and eye hope this is just an awkward phase no signs of damage so at least they aren't being to aggressive.

Agreed on the sexing they are near identical when I got them.   Looking forward to there adult sizes and colours.