Hi all,
I'm relatively new to New World cichlids but have kept and bred many species of fish and cichlid in the past. Mbubas, Kribensis, Convicts and Angels among other non-cichlid species.
I've had a pair of GBR's for a few months now. The male and female look to be quite mature, sizeable and mated. I only see them after work but when I do observe them, they are displaying for each other, choosing a spawning site, cleaning one, digging pits, chasing other fish away, etc. Female is round as can be with a nice red tummy. The male is surely ready for business.
Well... they haven't spawned yet! this has been going on for weeks now. This week, I observed them "testing" each other as teh lights went out. Tender nipping back and forth and I thought for sure I'd get eggs that night. Nope! Once the lights go out, the female's behavior completely changes and she looks almost hesitant. She swims sideways as the male approaches and loses color.
They seem to be fond of each other as the twp actively gaurd against the juvenile EBR's in teh tank. There is an A. Cacatuoides that they have an occasional territory spat with but those happen once every 3 hours. My tank is heavily planted and 125 gallons with sump. pH is kept at 6.0 with a pH meter inject CO2.
Has anyone obeserved this behavior? Thanks!
I'm relatively new to New World cichlids but have kept and bred many species of fish and cichlid in the past. Mbubas, Kribensis, Convicts and Angels among other non-cichlid species.
I've had a pair of GBR's for a few months now. The male and female look to be quite mature, sizeable and mated. I only see them after work but when I do observe them, they are displaying for each other, choosing a spawning site, cleaning one, digging pits, chasing other fish away, etc. Female is round as can be with a nice red tummy. The male is surely ready for business.
Well... they haven't spawned yet! this has been going on for weeks now. This week, I observed them "testing" each other as teh lights went out. Tender nipping back and forth and I thought for sure I'd get eggs that night. Nope! Once the lights go out, the female's behavior completely changes and she looks almost hesitant. She swims sideways as the male approaches and loses color.
They seem to be fond of each other as the twp actively gaurd against the juvenile EBR's in teh tank. There is an A. Cacatuoides that they have an occasional territory spat with but those happen once every 3 hours. My tank is heavily planted and 125 gallons with sump. pH is kept at 6.0 with a pH meter inject CO2.
Has anyone obeserved this behavior? Thanks!
