Question about hap

[Chasnkevin4ever]

My Hap is moving rocks around the tank making clear spots on the bottom of tank. He is moving all kinds of stuff around lol. Is there a reason he is doing this or is it normal?

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

mmmmm does he have a mate?? hehe

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

Ummm yeah kinda he has a female yellow lab but I didn't think they would mix like that will they?

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

oh yeah. any mouth brooder can cross with any other mouth brooder.

the babies will just be a little interesting. does he shimmy to her? lure her to the pit? nip her without biting?

 

[Wy Renegade]

Pretty standard behavior for a male hap. Most males have and defend a flat rock within their territory in order to entice females to lay their eggs. His rock moving behavior may lessen if you add a nice flat rock to the tank.

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

So with him moving rocks does that mean she is holding?

 

[joel618]

So with him moving rocks does that mean she is holding?

is she acting different? not eating?

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

has her chin dropped, is she eating, does she hide alot more?
the digging is more preparation. so maybe not yet...

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

She is eating she also has been hiding alot more.

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

Her chin has dropped a little

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

So how does the whole mouth brood breeding happen?

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

if shes eating then prob not holding. can we see a pic? x

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

1)they get preggo from circling, laying eggs, fertilising and the female picks them up.
2) the male goes off or protects her, more than often leaves her.
3) fem stops eating. hides more or defends territory by quick chases.
4) chin drops, for 3 weeks carries fry no food.
5) she spits or is stripped to collect fry.
6) happy babies, in ur case hybrids!

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

So when she stops eating she is holding and I have been trying to get a pix of her but she won't stay still long enough she was really bad bloated when I got her she is looking much better. She hides until I come up to tank then she comes out and swims up and down front of tank. So what exactly is circling? Is it like courting each other to get ready to make the babies? Sorry so many question these are the first cichlids I have ever owned. I want to learn everything I need too. So they will be happy!

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

they seem very happy atm! lol
the circling will be the spawning. look up on youtube for example mbuna (they are mouthbrooders) and check out spawning. its quite cool and can show you better than i can explain! haha x

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

Ok thanks

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

found any info? is she holding? xx

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

I don't think she is holding and if so I can't tell yet I have found a little info.

 

[Mouth-Brooder-Fanatic]

what have u found? is there anything else u wanna ask? x

 

[Chasnkevin4ever]

Not at the moment but I am sure I will lol