P. ruber roomate

[nursemelody]

Does anyone keep more than one ruber together? Are they social, or prone to being territorial and fighting?

 

[ozarkhellbender]

I keep four together, and I haven't had any problems. However, I don't know if you could really say they are social. From what I have seen, they tend to stay in their own sections of the tank. I suppose you could say they have their own "territories", but I haven't seen any fighting. Right now, I have all four in a 10 gallon aquarium in an attempt to get them to breed, but I normally have them in a 15 gallon terrarium.

 

[FRANCOIS]

I have 2, they sometimes are together, sometimes not. They do rarely pick on each other but it's not "bad", it's usually food related. Also, sometimes it's about courtship and if the female is not receptive, the male will get a hint!
In any case, make sure each P. ruber has a potential hide of his own.

 

[Ed]

I've found multiple P. ruber under the same cover objects within several centimeters of each other and I've kept ruber in groups up to six animals in a 20 long. The only time I saw any agression was when I started seeing some bite marks on the males and some circuling behaviors. I had to get them really cold (down to about 42 F), and simulated an upwelling flow of water into a stream like tank.

Ed

 

[nursemelody]

Thanks. Very helpful. I feel comfortable about getting her a room mate now!