Sexing Neol. Leleupi orange

[Jennifer]

Hello Everyone!

Hope your Christmas was wonderful, Mine was great:dance: I was wondering if anyone was able to tell female and males leleupi's apart. I have two bright orange one's one of them is about 3in and the other is about 2in. How do you breed these guys? and is it a hard species to breed? I was also wondering if they are usually aggressive cause these two chase everyone big or small around the tank. They have never done any damage to anyone they just get there kicks to chase other fish and nip at them. Thanks for any info.

Jennifer:)

[aharris]

Do they have faint irridescent blue stripes under their eyes? The only time I kept leleupis, the male had stripes. The males are also heavier bodied and mine at least was larger.

[Jennifer]

Hello

Thanks for the reply, and yes they do have blue stipes under there eyes, but the smaller ones are very light and faint, as the larger one is very bright.

[aharris]

My largest and most aggressive leleupi (I assume they were the males) used to chase everything. I never observed a spawn, but I know they did because one of their fry (sole survivor) got adopted by my julidochromis, and for the longest time I thought she might be some sort of weird albino juli.

I've read that they are indifferent parents most of the time. They don't necessarily eat their fry, but they aren't great at rearing them either. You also need to feed bbs to these guys when young because it will bring out the brilliant color.

[Jennifer]

Hello Aharris

Well that is an interesting story, kinda like the ugly duckling lol:) My largest one is the one who does most of the chasing. The smaller one chases only when others get in it's way. I have been told that they are secretive breeders. They are really pretty and interesting little guys though.

[matt1066]

Leleupis are great, they are fasinating to watch, and they breed liek rabbits.

I used to grow tem out a bit 3"'s or so, and trade them at my LFS.
They were always welcome there.

Matt