Yellow Lab Cichlids courting?

[keeperdk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ok-...xt=C3312929UDOEgsToPDskJxOaVZ0imowPhVsSZE8WLB
They've been doing this on and off for a few hours now. Are they getting ready to spawn? I'm new to Cichlids and have never seen them do this before....

Also, if they do have fry, would they do a good job protecting them? I have crayfish in this aquarium and don't want them to them to eat the babies...

 

[DrgRcr]

It's possible that the male is trying to attract the other, but it doesn't look like a yellow lab to me, probably a lab/zebra cross. It just looks way too full in the body for a lab IMO, and there are no hints of any black markings on the fins. That said, any fry that may be spit in the tank will quickly be gobbled up by the parents and any other inhabitants.

 

[Wren]

If they do breed (and they may be), the female will hold the eggs in her mouth until the babies are ready to eat. You will know she is holding eggs when her lower jaw looks full. She may be interested in food, but probably won't eat while she is holding eggs/fry.

Once she releases them into the tank, they will be fair game for anyone (parents too), to eat. A pile of smaller rubble rocks will provide a little shelter for the fry and you may have a couple of the smarter, quicker ones survive.

Have fun!
Lisa

 

[livebearerfreak]

great lab/zebra hybrids! got one like that ( i think is a zebra/lab ) but still about 1 inch or so

 

[Ptrick125]

It appears to me that they are being territorial.


Sent from my iPod touch using MonsterAquariaNetwork app

 

[keeperdk]

If they do breed (and they may be), the female will hold the eggs in her mouth until the babies are ready to eat. You will know she is holding eggs when her lower jaw looks full. She may be interested in food, but probably won't eat while she is holding eggs/fry.

Once she releases them into the tank, they will be fair game for anyone (parents too), to eat. A pile of smaller rubble rocks will provide a little shelter for the fry and you may have a couple of the smarter, quicker ones survive.

Have fun!
Lisa

Thanks

 

[keeperdk]

great lab/zebra hybrids! got one like that ( i think is a zebra/lab ) but still about 1 inch or so

haha thanks they were sold to me as yellow labs...guess they really aren't

 

[Jannika]

When my male lab wants to spawn he'll shake his body violently in front of the female. This apparently gets her in the mood. lol Once she's holding, he generally leaves her alone, but in between he does a lot of shaking. They've spawned countless times and usually the fry get eaten, but nevertheless my Malawi tank is getting overun with about a dozen 1" - 2" - 3" labs.

 

[keeperdk]

When my male lab wants to spawn he'll shake his body violently in front of the female. This apparently gets her in the mood. lol Once she's holding, he generally leaves her alone, but in between he does a lot of shaking. They've spawned countless times and usually the fry get eaten, but nevertheless my Malawi tank is getting overun with about a dozen 1" - 2" - 3" labs.

I've seen my male do that...always wondered what it was how do I tell if the female is holding?

 

[Wren]

how do I tell if the female is holding?

If you look at her from the side, when she is not holding the line from her lower lip to the bottom of her gill is fairly straight. If she is holding, it will bulge down. Usually she will be at least a little more shy, but that doesn't always happen. She will eat little or nothing while holding.

Here's a pic I found of a female holding...(not my pic)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/469957566_92c4b2f29e.jpg

Lisa