What’s up with my peacock cichlid butt area?

[FishNewbie82912]

I don’t know how to describe it. He’s been hiding and it’s like his butt is coming out a little? I tried to get pics. Any input would be appreciated. Maybe constipated?

 

[Colin_T]

Looks like a female and it is probably her ovipositor (egg laying tube).

 

[FishNewbie82912]

Looks like a female and it is probably her ovipositor (egg laying tube).

So does that mean she may lay eggs soon? It definitely wasn’t out the other day. I would have noticed that.

 

[Colin_T]

If it is female and you have a male, she probably wants to breed. If they do breed, she will collect the eggs up in her mouth and look after them and the babies. She will normally stop eating if she has eggs and there will be a lump under her bottom jaw. this is the buccal pouch where the eggs are held during development.

Male peacock cichlids are usually colourful (have lots of blue) and will have yellow dots called egg spots on their anal (bottom) fin.