In my experience, if they are mature enough for you to sex them then they
are mature enough for them to tell the difference too ;-)
I have had them produce viable eggs at that size. I don't think stopping
them from breeding (e.g. by separating sexes) has been shown to necessarily
accelerate growth. I would be interested to hear an opinion on this from
other listmembers.
Also I have not had problems with fighting amongst male "Poppondettas" and
used to find that group spawning with sexes about even was the most
effective.
Bruce Hansen
ANGFA
email: bhansen at ozemail.com.au
Don't miss the ANGFA web pages at -
http://www.ozemail.com.au/~fisher/angfa.htm
----------
From: Steven Halbasch <halbasch at ES.COM>
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
Subject: [RML] P. furcatus
Date: Saturday, 21 December 1996 4:27
I just received five fairly small 2 cm (3/4 inch) P. furcatus as a gift.
My
concern is that they may be like praecox and start breeding (and fighting)
at this size . Is there any net wisdom concerning when their hormones
start
getting the better of them. I would like to let them get a little size
before
I start breeding them. Main problem is that during the holidays I am
remodeling
the fish room and am short tanks to begin with so I really wont be able to
seperate them for a month or two. I hate unexpected gifts like this! ;-))