Will a male attach his "mate" if she's ill? My female is very stressed and grey. She started acting this way before the breeding started, but it's MUCH WORSE now. She is swimming on her sides when she's really stressed. They laid eggs, which disappeared within 2 days. Now, the female is not red-bellied, fat, or any other sign of breeding.....just dark and stressed. the male leaves her alone as long as she stays at the top of the tank. Is it possible that the "wigglers" were hidden where I can't see them, and he is protecting them, even from the mom? I have other important fish in this 55gtank that are important. I would like to move the female away from the male if the behavior is just normal breeding behavior, and she's not sick.