Hypancistrus zebra catfight

sharko · Post by **sharko** » 15 Feb 2005, 04:21

Video tape of my alpha male being challenged.

The file is big,about 45MB.but it will be worth the wait

Gives a new meaning to the word "catfight"

Right click and choose save target as..

http://public.qtopia.no/KIKZebrafight.wmv

Could not have done this without your help McEve

Post by **Janne** » 15 Feb 2005, 20:35

Really good movie

, I have seen fights before between Hypancistrus species but not for so long time and not so heavy like this.

Janne

pturley · Post by **pturley** » 15 Feb 2005, 21:55

Hail to the King!

Excellent Video!

I am amazed about how much abuse he took prior to exiting the cave for a head-to-head. But then again, defending a cave is easier than taking one. The challenger could have easily darted inside and set up in defensive mode.

I would presume the smaller fish in the background was a female intently watching the action at the Alpha male's cave?

I am actually more curious about what has happened in the tank since the video.
If dominance behavior in fish is anything like birds (which it is!) having this strong of a challenger in the tank with the Alpha may actually act as an impediment to spawning.
Have you had any spawns in this tank since the video? If you haven't it could be that the Alpha isn't secure enough in his position to risk brooding a nest right now. If they have, then he likely has soundly defeated the challenger at some point.

Great work...

Graeme · Post by **Graeme** » 15 Feb 2005, 23:04

Superb movie!

sharko · Post by **sharko** » 18 Feb 2005, 10:24

The last few days after this fight, one male has been digging a lot outside his cave,and today i used a torch to look inside the cave, and there was one more zebra further inside,the male was blocking the entrance.I do not believe this is the challenger involved in the videotaped fight.

The cave is the one in the pictrues below,which i have made myself.

I will also point out that this male was involved in a fight 3-4 weeks ago, and we now see that his black strips has connected.All of my zebra's had straight lines when purchased, and not connected like we see in this pictures.

http://www.nettakvariet.no/galleri/show ... 500&page=1

http://www.nettakvariet.no/galleri/show ... 500&page=1

SanDiegoFishes · Post by **SanDiegoFishes** » 22 Feb 2005, 23:06

WOW! That was a fantastic video, thanks so much for sharing it with the rest of us. They really had a battle, amazing.
Thanks again,
Best, Barb

Busta · Post by **Busta** » 23 Feb 2005, 17:39

wow that goes on for ages were they harmed during that fight?

sharko · Post by **sharko** » 24 Feb 2005, 16:07

The alpha male lost his strips,and is kind of red/white,but he told the Beta male off in a big way

Busta · Post by **Busta** » 24 Feb 2005, 21:43

what does it mean when they go slighty red/white? injured or stress

Deb · Post by **Deb** » 24 Feb 2005, 22:21

This was an absolutely wonderful video!
What a great glimpse into the lives of creatures we only are beginning to get to know.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
You are right, it took a while to load.
But it was really worth it.

Deb