confused

[Knuc dog]

Hey all..
i am a little confused by what i have been seeing the past few days. i have three cynotilapia afra in wiht a yellow lab and soem victorian cichlids.. one of my cynotilapia has been making strange movements with its mouth and when i look in its mouth i think i can see some small white spheres (eggs). however i am confused because this same fish was the most territorial and was always digging caves.. so i assumed it to be a male. i am jsut wondering if i should be expecting or what? I am also not sure what is going on because the underside of is jaw isn't puffed out like what i thought was normal with a holding fish....

 

[Ferris]

Nothing more territorial than a brooding Cichlid, sounds like she's a mommy.

Think about it, digging caves, chasing away other fish, marking territories. Sounds like a female Cichlid getting ready to be a parent to me!

Could be some fry on the way, good luck with it and keep us posted.

 

[Knuc dog]

hey ferris,
thanks for the reply, umm i jsut noticed this today, (march 22) so it must have happend last night. I've heard that a fish will usually lose its first batch, but say that mine doesn't..... how long till i should be expecting??

thanks alex

 

[Knuc dog]

here's a pic of herand another

 

[Ferris]

Hey great pics,

What you've heard about the 1st spawning is generally true but not always. If she is brooding, I'd expect fry within the next week to 10 days.

Good luck!

 

[freddyk]

She won't actually release those fry for a little less then a month from when she first picks up the eggs.