Not A True Pair?

[Gaz_S]

My rainbow cichlids have spawned for the first time, still quite young, male is doing a great job fanning eggs and defending them. But... the female is at the other side of the tank with numerous markings on her head. Didnt see what happened and assuming there are not a true pair and the male has taken this matter into his own hands. Any opinions?

Gaz

 

[KittyKat]

Give them some time, first time is almost never smooth.

 

[joeyh51]

Give them some time, first time is almost never smooth.

Reminds me of my 1st girlfriend

 

[snowflake311]

They are a pair. Sometimes it happens mates don't always get along once they spawn. My blue acaras NEVER got along after the eggs were a day old. One always took over and the other was beatten if he came near. It's common for cichlids to be like this. They love eachother one day and hate them the next.

Maybe it's due to us force pairing them. Putting male and female cichlid together does not mean they will work well together. Did you buy 6 young fish and let them pair? Or did you get one male and one female then just cross your fingers? I think if the fish can pick it's mate they work out better in the end.

You might want to seperate them after they lay eggs. Because my female stressed the male out so bad he died she is still doing great. They might never get along perfectly but will spawn. I found dithers or others larger fish around help get the parents to work together but it did not always work.

 

[Monty-2010]

my rainbows have been breeding for a long tim now, both usually do take care of the eggs but every now and then the Female is the one doing the beating, the funny thing is the male just takes it, as if to say yes i'm wrong you're right....