Keyhole's

[digital_run]

Hi there...

I haven't read to much on the spawning habits of keyholes...mostly because i thought i had two males.....But in the last couple of days ive noticed them acting strangely......One will flare all its fins and seem to lead the other around...ocassionally lip-locking......now the only reason i noticed is because its fairly similar to my Convicts spawning...They are in a tank with some very hungry fish so i dont expect any fry.....i just want to make sure this is spawning any noting else....I havent noticed them "protecting" anything yet...Any help would be great!!!

Thnx ÐR

 

[Waterloo Kid]

Just before my Keyholes spawned the pair 'took control' of a small area of the tank and chased off any other Keyhole that came close. The colours got quite intense (body was darker, the fins got a white band at the tips, lots of black speckles on the body) as spawwning approached. The pair stayed pretty much together. If they did part they would flare at each other when they met back up but no fighting would happen. Sometimes they would shudder at each other (like a mini fit!) and sometimes they would position themselves side on to each other and the male wafts water at the female to show off his strength.

If you do have a pair the female is the smaller of the two.

Hope that helps,

WK

 

[aloaring]

My two males always used to have the odd tussle as one always wanted to dominant! i also think that other cichlids breeding can have an affect on similar fish , maybe they release hormones or something .
when i got a female keyhole and she started breeding with one of the males the angel fish and kribs in the tank became more aggresive and looked Horny !!