210 gallon Frontosa build
- Thread starter Caperguy99
- Start date
The fish that I asked about last month, that looked like it was practicing egg-laying or something, is clearly holding now. I’ve included some photos below.
As mentioned, none of the males are old enough to fertilize, so it’s a bit of a moot point - but really cool to see nonetheless.
Huge, full mouth - and clearly rolling it around with the mouth.
As mentioned, none of the males are old enough to fertilize, so it’s a bit of a moot point - but really cool to see nonetheless.
Huge, full mouth - and clearly rolling it around with the mouth.
Why, what are your thoughts? You’d know better than me - Does it look like holding?Very peculiar
If not, there’s definitely something in the mouth. Would it be holding sand or something?
She is holding something for certain. Given her age/size if you had a bossy male I would say she’s holding sand, and still may well be. They will pick things up in their mouths, even air, to try to make it look like they’re “not in the mood”. I have seen fronts display this behavior, and my tropheus do it a lot.
You do not have a larger bossy male. These 2 additions are the biggest in the tank correct? 4”? Which puts them in the 2-3yr age range given the slow growth rate of female gibberosa, and in the general sense, not mature enough to produce eggs yet.
So, she’s older than her physical size suggests, she is a crazily anomalous fish, or for some other reason she is practicing holding, defensive or otherwise
You do not have a larger bossy male. These 2 additions are the biggest in the tank correct? 4”? Which puts them in the 2-3yr age range given the slow growth rate of female gibberosa, and in the general sense, not mature enough to produce eggs yet.
So, she’s older than her physical size suggests, she is a crazily anomalous fish, or for some other reason she is practicing holding, defensive or otherwise
You are correct on all points - one of the “new” larger females, but still not 5” I wouldn’t say. And yes, the two females are still the largest - my suspected male is closing the size gap, but probably still a touch smaller. Certainly, he doesn’t seem to be hassling the bigger girls.She is holding something for certain. Given her age/size if you had a bossy male I would say she’s holding sand, and still may well be. They will pick things up in their mouths, even air, to try to make it look like they’re “not in the mood”. I have seen fronts display this behavior, and my tropheus do it a lot.
You do not have a larger bossy male. These 2 additions are the biggest in the tank correct? 4”? Which puts them in the 2-3yr age range given the slow growth rate of female gibberosa, and in the general sense, not mature enough to produce eggs yet.
So, she’s older than her physical size suggests, she is a crazily anomalous fish, or for some other reason she is practicing holding, defensive or otherwise
Every time I think I have something figured out, I realize it’s more complicated than I thought!
IKR. Fish are a lot more intuitive than we think. This “holding behavior” when they’re not really holding is a kin to “I have a headache so not tonight darling”
Wow, I watched the holding fish spit out the egg remnants - or whatever it was - this morning. I fed the other fish as usual, and the holding fish didn’t feed - then about ten mins later, it sort of spasmed its gills and lips and pushed out a mouthful of something that the other fish came and ate up. Gross.
So 3 days of holding, followed by spitting.
Pretty cool!
So 3 days of holding, followed by spitting.
Pretty cool!
