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- 240
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I am wondering if anyone else has noticed this kind of behavior in other dwarfs...
I've got a pair of Bolivian Rams (M. altispinosa) in a 15g with a pair of Pelv. taeniatus "Dehane" The bolivians spawned a few days ago, and I didn't have a hatching tank available, so I let them keep them. Well, they are now guarding about 50 wigglers.
The Dehane spawned tonight, and I happend to have a tank ready for eggs, and I pulled the eggs. While I was reaching around in the tank for the cave with the eggs, I decided to smoothe some of the sand out that the pelvs had so thoughtfully piled in one corner. I do that, grab the cave, walk across the room and put the eggs in a hatching tank. When I come back, I notice the female rams sucking up wigglers. There are now about 3 left in their shallow pit.
I figured I blew it. They ate the wigglers becuase I was creating havoc in the tank. So, I sat down to watch and drown my sorrow with one more cup of coffee before I turn in. Low and behold, about 15 minutes after I sat down, mom ram swims over to the now empty pit and spits out all the wigglers. Carried them around almost like a larval mouthbrooder does.
I've seen dwarfs pick up a few at a time and move them to different areas, suck up strays and spit them back into the group, etc. But I've never seen one gather them up in a protection mode. Was a total suprise since she had been swimming all around the tank for so long with the entire spawn in her mouth. Is this a common behavior that I just haven't noticed before? As much as I stare at my tanks, hard to believe I'd miss something like this...
I've got a pair of Bolivian Rams (M. altispinosa) in a 15g with a pair of Pelv. taeniatus "Dehane" The bolivians spawned a few days ago, and I didn't have a hatching tank available, so I let them keep them. Well, they are now guarding about 50 wigglers.
The Dehane spawned tonight, and I happend to have a tank ready for eggs, and I pulled the eggs. While I was reaching around in the tank for the cave with the eggs, I decided to smoothe some of the sand out that the pelvs had so thoughtfully piled in one corner. I do that, grab the cave, walk across the room and put the eggs in a hatching tank. When I come back, I notice the female rams sucking up wigglers. There are now about 3 left in their shallow pit.
I figured I blew it. They ate the wigglers becuase I was creating havoc in the tank. So, I sat down to watch and drown my sorrow with one more cup of coffee before I turn in. Low and behold, about 15 minutes after I sat down, mom ram swims over to the now empty pit and spits out all the wigglers. Carried them around almost like a larval mouthbrooder does.
I've seen dwarfs pick up a few at a time and move them to different areas, suck up strays and spit them back into the group, etc. But I've never seen one gather them up in a protection mode. Was a total suprise since she had been swimming all around the tank for so long with the entire spawn in her mouth. Is this a common behavior that I just haven't noticed before? As much as I stare at my tanks, hard to believe I'd miss something like this...