DiscusnAfricans
Past President
I don't know if this is the exact, correct term but its a spawning process I've recently been able to witness with my 90g New World tank. I've had many typical maternal mouthbrooding African cichlids, but this is my first experience with delayed mouthbrooders.
This is actually the second spawn in the tank, but the first time I was able to witness the egg-laying/fertilization process. I have a group of young Geophagus sp. 'Red-head Tapajos' living in a community 90 gallon tank. The tank is a PFS substrate, with driftwood, a few rocks, and potted/attached anubias.
Last night I witnessed a female laying eggs on a flat rock anchoring a potted anubias plant. The male would folllow behind her and fertilize the new eggs. Its not a large rock, about 8 square inches of surface area, and they were covering it pretty well when I observed the process. Both fish also took turns chasing anyone that came within 20 inches of their rock. Its neat to watch fish defend a spawning site in a community tank if the damage is minimal.
I learned after the last brood that the eggs will hatch within a day or two, the parents will dig a pit to place the fry, and will then take turns protecting the fry in their mouth. Last spawn I only observed the male holding, but both fish will hold at different times according to the literature. There is a pit dug out under a neighboring rock, so the parents seem to be well prepared.
I will try and take some pictures tonight. I'm hoping the eggs will still be present so I can document various stages of the process. The rock of choice is in the very front of the tank, so getting pictures shouldn't be a problem if the parents are guarding the nest effectively. I don't know if the same pair has spawned again, but the first set raised fry and held for at least a week. They don't hold as long as typical mouthbrooders so this may have been considered full term.
Anyone else have experience with this type of spawning?
This is actually the second spawn in the tank, but the first time I was able to witness the egg-laying/fertilization process. I have a group of young Geophagus sp. 'Red-head Tapajos' living in a community 90 gallon tank. The tank is a PFS substrate, with driftwood, a few rocks, and potted/attached anubias.
Last night I witnessed a female laying eggs on a flat rock anchoring a potted anubias plant. The male would folllow behind her and fertilize the new eggs. Its not a large rock, about 8 square inches of surface area, and they were covering it pretty well when I observed the process. Both fish also took turns chasing anyone that came within 20 inches of their rock. Its neat to watch fish defend a spawning site in a community tank if the damage is minimal.
I learned after the last brood that the eggs will hatch within a day or two, the parents will dig a pit to place the fry, and will then take turns protecting the fry in their mouth. Last spawn I only observed the male holding, but both fish will hold at different times according to the literature. There is a pit dug out under a neighboring rock, so the parents seem to be well prepared.
I will try and take some pictures tonight. I'm hoping the eggs will still be present so I can document various stages of the process. The rock of choice is in the very front of the tank, so getting pictures shouldn't be a problem if the parents are guarding the nest effectively. I don't know if the same pair has spawned again, but the first set raised fry and held for at least a week. They don't hold as long as typical mouthbrooders so this may have been considered full term.
Anyone else have experience with this type of spawning?
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