Strange Cichlid Behaviour?

[Xebadir]

Hi guys,

Never encountered this before, but then again ive never successfully bred Cichlids before either. Did some rock movin yesterday when i seperated out my 3 extra males, and this morning discovered a massive pile of gravel(Basaltic smaller grain) excavated from under one of the structures to the point that the base glass was exposed: Just wondering is this a common thing for Saulosi to do?

Second question pertains to whether it was the Saulosi, I do have a couple of Sydontis Perticola in there would they manage this?

Evidence of breeding is quite obvious for the Saulosi: I have 1 brood already spat (8 fry), and know at least one female also has fry holding, and another eggs. Just wondering if anyone has suggestions for catching the females in order to strip/segregate for spitting without destroying ones tank?

Thanks

 

[dthoffsett]

Mbuna LOVE to dig. If you had sand in your tank you would see it more often, but they will dig in gravel as well. That is why it is very important to place your rocks on the bare bottom of the tank, then put your substrate around them.

Good luck on catching the fish without taking apart your tank, I haven't managed it yet. They're fast, and smart, I swear they know if I'm coming to feed them, they'll rush to the top of the tank, if I have a net, they all hide.

 

[caboose_122]

Mbuna LOVE to dig. If you had sand in your tank you would see it more often, but they will dig in gravel as well. That is why it is very important to place your rocks on the bare bottom of the tank, then put your substrate around them.

Good luck on catching the fish without taking apart your tank, I haven't managed it yet. They're fast, and smart, I swear they know if I'm coming to feed them, they'll rush to the top of the tank, if I have a net, they all hide.

lol very true, although i dont have any africans i know for a fact that they absolutly love to dig, my friends mbuna are always moving the sand around the rocks to make new caves and such