Why has one of my females been beaten up?

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:46 pm

Hmmm.......seems I am the only one posting at the moment!

My Zebra tank has 2 males and 4 females. The two males live at either end of the tank in their caves, occaisionally swaping ends, but there hasn't been any trouble between them. Anyway, this morning I saw that one of my females was looking very much the worse for wear. Lost a couple of stripes on both sides and the dosal fin is a bit tattered. My first thought was that maybe she wasn't a female after all but a small young male, but (s)he has not behaved like a male in as much she hasn't caved and has a usual spot on the slate to hang out.

So I guess the questions are - Could she be a male? Do females fight? Should I remove him/her? I have dosed with melafix and will do so now until (s)he looks better, but she looks lively enough. The big alpha male has swapped ends over night and is close by.

What do you think?

Angela

dconnors · Post by **dconnors** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:31 pm

I just had the same thing happen with one of my breeding females. Sometimes this can happen when they attempt to spawn. Make sure you stay on top of your water quality-the fish will heal fairly quickly but is prone to bacterial infection while the wound is still fresh. Good luck!

Dave

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:38 pm

Thanks Dave, I am reassured by that. I do a 5% change every other day and a 20% weekly. Just done my 20% but will do another tomorrow and every day until she's looking better. If she's tried to spawn I guess I should be pleased.............clearly I wish the male was more amenable!!

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:22 pm

Just took some pictures. This is her usual spot, but the alpha male has moved over from the other end of the tank to the one next to where she usually hangs out! You can see the big bruisers tail hanging out of his cave on the right. You can see how she's been roughed up, it's the same on both sides but not as pink as it was this morning.

She definitely seems interested in him, or a glutton for punishment. She's about the smallest one I have and doesn't look like she has any eggs.

Should I think about removing her or putting her into a fre saver for a couple of days?

Jo's Zebs · Post by **Jo's Zebs** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 10:31 pm

She will recover fast it is practice spawning action bashing or they are sorting out who is going to live where, flank scuffs are a good breeding sign but make sure its not happening too often I would say the fish is a female

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Sat Feb 20, 2010 11:56 pm

It's worse than having kids! lol

Jo's Zebs · Post by **Jo's Zebs** » Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:58 pm

I know it is funny how peopl always say fish are relaxing and great fir stress - great for causing stress more like lol

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 11:09 pm

Jo, you were right she did recover fast and is all healed up again!

Joby · Post by **Joby** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:03 am

Good to hear she's all healed up

GrubbyGirl · Post by **GrubbyGirl** » Sun Mar 14, 2010 5:06 pm

Just took a pic of her hanging out by the alpha male as ever, as you can see she now has a little zigzag in her stripe. She is by far my youngest and smalles female yet she's more keen on the male than all of them!!