are my tiger barbs breeding???

[jmaglich]

Hello all,
Tonight when I looked into my tiger barb tank (8 tiger barbs, about 3/4' to 1" each, I noticed two tiget barbs kept "kissing" each other continuously, and constantly swimming closely around each other. Its really hard to explain, but its almost like they're kissing each other on the lips and slightly above sometimes. They really dont look like theyre fighting. Ive heard they lay eggs, but could they be spawning? Thanks a lot!

 

[Zagz]

I don't know if that would be spawning behaviour. I do know it is aggression. Cichlids do it all the time to assert dominance and territory. I'd bet it's an aggression/territorial issue. Do they go around in circles while doing this?

 

[7Enigma]

Yup sounds like they are establishing a pecking order among the group. Not mating IMO. For mating you will see them chasing each other around the tank and then going belly to belly. It's inmistakable from normal interactions...