A. sp. mouthbrooder

[fideltagamma]

Is this species a real mouthbrooder or it is just the name?

And if it is not why is it called mouthbrooder?

Daniel

 

[Neil]

Yes, this is a real delayed mouthbrooder. This doesn't mean that this is the only scheme that you may witness in their breeding practices, but they do employ this methodology. I have only witnessed partial mouthbrooding by A. sp "Maulbruter", but it was more pronounced than other apistos species. They usually take the larva in the mouth after hatching and keep them there for longer periods than their relatives. This is perhaps a significant evolutionary transition phase of an Apistogramma, moving towards a more complex stategy for protection of fry.

Neil

 

[fideltagamma]

Hi Neil,

Thanks for the answer!

So if I have a pair they have more chance to raise the fry in a community tank than other apistos.
I think I am getting more and more into the genus, than I should. My wife doesn't really appriciates tanks all around!

Thanks again.

Daniel

 

[Rolo]

So if I have a pair they have more chance to raise the fry in a community tank than other apistos.

No. It's a larvophile mouthbrooder, not an ovophile (are these the correct english words?) That means, the female is breeding quite normal in a cave until the larvae hatch. Then - and only then - in the larval stage the female takes them into the mouth. Sometimes (e.g. to eat) she puts the fry behind a stone or somewhere else and (after eating) takes them into the mouth again later.
If the fry is able to swim (that's comparable with the moment, when other fry comes out of the cave) the mouthbreeding ends and the rest is equal to all other apistos.

greetings,
Rolo

 

[Xanathos]

If the fry is able to swim (that's comparable with the moment, when other fry comes out of the cave) the mouthbreeding ends and the rest is equal to all other apistos.

That's what I noticed too with mine...
T
hey are quite agressive, too, by the way. My big breeding male trashed an elizabethae


Phil