Mouth brooding in p. taeniatus 'lobe'

[geeks_15]

My pelvicachromis taeniatus 'lobe' have only 1 or 2 free swimming fry right now. I witnessed the fry swimming into the mother's mouth several times. Is this a common behavior?

My p. taeniatus 'moliwe' have bred much more for me, but I have not noticed them taking fry into their mouth.

 

[tjudy]

Are the fry going in and out of the mother's mouth, or is she picking them up to move them to a new place?

 

[geeks_15]

The fry are to the age where they are starting to get more independent. The fry will approach the mother and bump into the mother's chin several times and then she takes the fry into her mouth for a few moments. She spits the fry out and they do it again.

Interesting.

 

[westafrica]

Hi,

This subject was recently discussed on CRC, here is the link :

http://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=3610

Maybe you'll find this interesting

 

[tjudy]

It does not surprise me that Pelvicachromis, or many other cichlids, will pick up fry occasionally. I do not consider that act full-blown mouth brooding though. I have not seen or heard of a case where either parent has held developing eggs/larvae in their mouth for extended periods of time.

 

[geeks_15]

It does not surprise me that Pelvicachromis, or many other cichlids, will pick up fry occasionally. I do not consider that act full-blown mouth brooding though. I have not seen or heard of a case where either parent has held developing eggs/larvae in their mouth for extended periods of time.

Agreed. Mouthbrooding was probably not the correct term. I just thought it was interesting behavior.

 

[tjudy]

I have seen free swimming fry of Pelvic. signatus seek refuge in their mother's mouth when startled. She took them in, turned into the cave and spit them out.