Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor Victoriae Spawning

Some very cool mouthbrooding cichlid fish.

One day a pair were so involved in spawning that they ignored my camera and flash and kept going for about 30 minutes.

The male first clears a small pit in the gravel of the tank of all plants and snails, and scares off all the other fish. Then he chases the female and displays to her until she follows him to the spawning site.

They swim in circles as they spawn: the male nudges the female to get her to release eggs one at a time;
the male fertilizes them;
and the female takes each one into her mouth, where she incubates them until they hatch and are free swimming.

The young fry still find refuge in her mouth when dangers like annoying photographers threaten.

21 photos | 1,845 views

items are from between 05 Nov 2005 & 17 Oct 2006.