Pseudotropheus Zebra Albino...shaking?

[Bloopie]

Hello.

I've had a beautiful Pseudotropheus Zebra Albino for nearly 2 years now...
I do a weekly 25% water change and the fish looks very healthy and colorful.

But every now and then I watch him do something a bit odd... it seems like he is shaking uncontrollably for like 2 seconds and then he is back to normal.
There's nothing wrong with his movement at all... Oh yeah, it usually happens right after he is chasing my Maylandia Callainos around (not aggressively, they are both very docile and it will only happen for a few seconds once in a while).

From what I've been told in this forum in the past, the Zebra Albino is a male and the Maylandia Callainos is female.
Could the Zebra be trying to seduce the Callainos or something?

Thanks.

 

[Ferris]

It's perfectly normal for Mbuna to do this and is allways either a sign of aggression (intimidation) or part of a mating ritual.

In your case - it really could be either.

 

[Bloopie]

It's perfectly normal for Mbuna to do this and is allways either a sign of aggression (intimidation) or part of a mating ritual.

In your case - it really could be either.

Thanks Ferris.

Is it actually possible for these two different species of cichlids to "cross-breed"?

 

[Ferris]

Yep - i recently had a male Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos breed with a female Pseudotropheus Sococlofi albino. Those 2 genus' are far more different than Pseudotropheus and Maylandia/Metriaclima, which until fairly recently were under the same classification.

Mbuna in general interbreed quite easily and the number of hybrids available is steadily increasing.

 

[Bloopie]

Yep - i recently had a male Melanochromis Cyaneorhabdos breed with a female Pseudotropheus Sococlofi albino. Those 2 genus' are far more different than Pseudotropheus and Maylandia/Metriaclima, which until fairly recently were under the same classification.

Mbuna in general interbreed quite easily and the number of hybrids available is steadily increasing.

Well, apart from the odd shake here and there they don't seem to interact often.
I'm wondering why this is.
Maybe a 110L gallon isn't enough for the two of them to go at it? (they share the tank with just an upside down catfish).

The Maylandia is about 10cm and the Albino is about 12cm.
They have lots of rocks/caves.
Water is excellent, high PH and no nitrate/ammonia.
They've been in there for almost 2 years and have always been very docile... No mating though.

Are these reasonable conditions for them to mate?