Snake Dancing's meaning

[edwliang]

i wonder if snake dance means aggression or courtship...sometimes it is not easy to know their behaviour.

 

[Mike Wise]

I can't be sure, but it looks like 2 males. If this is true, then it is a territorial display. If it is a pair, then it is probably courtship.

 

[gerald]

The same or very similar displays are used for both territorial dominance and courting potential mates.
To a male cichlid, I don't think he sees much difference between these behaviors ... nor do some people.

 

[edwliang]

I can't be sure, but it looks like 2 males. If this is true, then it is a territorial display. If it is a pair, then it is probably courtship.

The bigger one is an F1 of Elizabethae from Germany, the smaller one is an Elizabethae from Belgium. they are both less than 3cm in length. i heard people said it was not easy to identify Elizabethae's sex. please help to identify the below one(smaller one) which should be a female:

 

[edwliang]

another pic of the 'female'.

 

[Mike Wise]

It probably is a female, but a 3cm/1⅛" it could be an immature male, too.

 

[edwliang]

more pics of snake dancing.

 

[edwliang]

I can't be sure, but it looks like 2 males. If this is true, then it is a territorial display. If it is a pair, then it is probably courtship.

the smaller one is really a male! thanks, mike