Went to the lfs and I noticed two very lovely deep red Cichlids protecting about 50-60 tiny wigglers!
What I want to know is, are they male and female/pair? Both are very red and both chased off the other 3 dull Cichlids and kept sucking in fry and placing them back in the center. One has a black spot on the tail, the other doesn't. I bought both, unfortunately, the lady could not catch the fry, they vanished into the gravel.
Please tell me that means they are a pair!
One is doing well, it's red again, other still needs some time. Both are swimming together and exploring their new tank.
Here are some quick, poor pictures.
Well, in the store tank, they had 3 small light colored Jewels that were hiding in the top corner of the tank. Then these two, both the same crazy red were in the center of the fry bubble. Both went off to chase the lighter colored fish and both picked fry up and placed them back in the center. Both did that very twitchy motion to keep water moving also.
Later in the day yesterday, they started arguing in their new tank. It's heavily planted, no plant destruction yet. Today, I got more plants for my birthday Sunday and I moved the 'cave' so the back hole is usable. I placed a long plant leaf in the 'cave' so it looked like it was growing out of it. I was hoping that would make them go into it. It worked!
But they are still fighting, well, the darker is chasing off the other. Should I worry that this pair is no longer ok with each other? Should I have bought one of those 3 light ones that were hiding? Would that of helped these two? What can I do for them to get them to like each other again and possibly spawn?
There is no damage on either fish, btw. They ate frozen Bloodworms very happily, but flake was not liked at all.
The bigger paler of the two has been trying to lure the female(?) into the 'cave'. So I guess this might become the Jewel Cichlid fry journal instead of just a question.
Anything I should do to improve their life so they will spawn?
I've been changing 5 gallons every other day.
What I want to know is, are they male and female/pair? Both are very red and both chased off the other 3 dull Cichlids and kept sucking in fry and placing them back in the center. One has a black spot on the tail, the other doesn't. I bought both, unfortunately, the lady could not catch the fry, they vanished into the gravel.
Please tell me that means they are a pair!
One is doing well, it's red again, other still needs some time. Both are swimming together and exploring their new tank.
Here are some quick, poor pictures.
Well, in the store tank, they had 3 small light colored Jewels that were hiding in the top corner of the tank. Then these two, both the same crazy red were in the center of the fry bubble. Both went off to chase the lighter colored fish and both picked fry up and placed them back in the center. Both did that very twitchy motion to keep water moving also.
Later in the day yesterday, they started arguing in their new tank. It's heavily planted, no plant destruction yet. Today, I got more plants for my birthday Sunday and I moved the 'cave' so the back hole is usable. I placed a long plant leaf in the 'cave' so it looked like it was growing out of it. I was hoping that would make them go into it. It worked!
But they are still fighting, well, the darker is chasing off the other. Should I worry that this pair is no longer ok with each other? Should I have bought one of those 3 light ones that were hiding? Would that of helped these two? What can I do for them to get them to like each other again and possibly spawn?
There is no damage on either fish, btw. They ate frozen Bloodworms very happily, but flake was not liked at all.
The bigger paler of the two has been trying to lure the female(?) into the 'cave'. So I guess this might become the Jewel Cichlid fry journal instead of just a question.
Anything I should do to improve their life so they will spawn?
I've been changing 5 gallons every other day.
