Normal Behaviour?

[Zoepop]

Hi,

last week a got a pair of Apistogramma cacatuoides they are a lovely pair and my female started to colour up as soon as she got into the tank, turning a lovely yellow and dancing for the male at every chance...

...she does have a strange habit though so just wondered if it was normal, as soon as I put the bubble bar on in the back of the tank she scoots over and catches a mouthful of bubbles and then pops into her cave and lets the bubbles out, she returns over again and again until the roof of her cave is full of bubbles and a bubble releases out of the door then starts all over again.

Is this normal? Very comical to watch but just wondered if this was usual.

Thanks

 

[kaivalagi]

Sounds hilarious

How old and how big are your apistos? I'm wondering if this is a immature response to wanting to spawn?

Best guess anyway...I've never heard of bubble catching and putting into a cave before, but it sounds similar to the moving of fry that a parent cichlid can make

 

[hamfist]

Don't know what it's all about but it is obviously fulfilling some primeval urge inside her, so is doing no harm at all.
I expect that with a bit of time and settling in, they will get down to spawning properly.

Basically, don't worry !!

 

[Zoepop]

Thanks for the replies, they are both very young, only just over an inch i'd guess the female...she is working hard!

Pleased to hear is itn's doing her any harm, looks like she could be a good mum if the male will play the game!!