Cichlids are noted for their unique and very cool breeding behaviour. No doubt they are very good parents. I watched as the female stacked the newly hatched wigglers into a tight pile. Eventually the fry started to pop out of the pile as they attempted to swim for the first time. Mother would diligently take the fry back to home base.
As you can imagine, when you have several hundred "kids" doing the same thing at the same time...things can get pretty interesting. The female stayed on top of it and kept snapping them up and gently spitting them back out onto the pile. Pretty soon they weren't popping out...but swimming. Mom kept at it. After a couple hours dozens more were wandering even farther. Mom didn't stop.
Eventually the fry were completely scattered throughout the 100 gallon tank. Mom's home base began to change...then disappear entirely leaving the fy to their own swimming. Even the male at one point helped in gathering the fry. He would do the same...snap them up and then swim over to the divider and spit it through an opening. Neither of the adults have ever occupied the same half of the tank. They met and bred right through the divider.
As soon as the lights go out...all of the fry will collect themselves back into a pile under the females watchful eye. I chose to leave these fry with the parents. I normally do that for the first batch (this is their first)...and generally the fry don't make it. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few dozen still living in the tank with the parents.
If you have seen previous photos you know that these are particularly nicely colored Managuense. The video color does not do the fish justice...but serve well in illustrating the behaviour listed above. Enjoy.
Mo
Honduran Managuense
As you can imagine, when you have several hundred "kids" doing the same thing at the same time...things can get pretty interesting. The female stayed on top of it and kept snapping them up and gently spitting them back out onto the pile. Pretty soon they weren't popping out...but swimming. Mom kept at it. After a couple hours dozens more were wandering even farther. Mom didn't stop.
Eventually the fry were completely scattered throughout the 100 gallon tank. Mom's home base began to change...then disappear entirely leaving the fy to their own swimming. Even the male at one point helped in gathering the fry. He would do the same...snap them up and then swim over to the divider and spit it through an opening. Neither of the adults have ever occupied the same half of the tank. They met and bred right through the divider.
As soon as the lights go out...all of the fry will collect themselves back into a pile under the females watchful eye. I chose to leave these fry with the parents. I normally do that for the first batch (this is their first)...and generally the fry don't make it. I was pleasantly surprised to see a few dozen still living in the tank with the parents.
If you have seen previous photos you know that these are particularly nicely colored Managuense. The video color does not do the fish justice...but serve well in illustrating the behaviour listed above. Enjoy.
Mo
Honduran Managuense
