Hello people! I have a single small texas (Herichthys carpintis) in an 'L' shaped tank about 75 gallons with an additional sump beneath the tank and good filtration, with a few rainbows and barbs to bring him out! However watching him in there digging his pits i felt sorry for him and wondered if it would be possible to add a mate for him? I think that i have a male but would be grateful if you could give me some tips on sexing them? Would it be ok to add just one female as the existing texas is only about 3 inches!?
Cheers for any help you can give me!!
Liam

Sexing a Texas that small is nearly impossible. You can't tell untill it breeds. Normaly they start breeding after 5 or so inches. When a male Texas Cichlid matures it will develop a hump on it's head and it's dorsal and ventral fins will be slightly long and more pointed. If you want to get a pair, try buying 2 or 3 Texas Cichlids the same size your Texas is and wait a few months...and see what happens. :D But your Texas really doesn't need a mate. They can live happy lives by themselves and it would save him from bullying or being bullied by other Texas Cichlids.

(BTW...It's normal for texas to burry/make holes into the substrate. He either needs more hiding spaces or he's establishing a territory =).)