American mouthbrooders versus African

[viejafish]

What is your experience with American mouthbrooders.

Am I correct to assume that American maternal mouthbrooders behave the same as African mouthbrooders, just less violent.

What about delayed mouthbrooders. Do they form pair bond and the fathers provide parental care similar to their egg laying cousins. Besides Balzani, what other American species are delayed mouthbrooders? Are there any biparental mouthbrooders out there?

 

[duanes]

Many of the Gymnogeophagus labiatus/gymnogenys group are delayed mouthbrooders.

As are many in the Geophagus altifrons group, and some other geophagines
And some of the Hero's.
As to whether much different than Africans, I suppose that's a matter of opinion.
I have had both new and old world spawn in my tanks, and I treat them a similar manner.
I try to separate holding females of both to give them as peaceful a holding time as they can in the confines of an aquarium.
The above photo is Urugayan Gymnogeophagus quilero, below Alcolapia alcalicus from the African soda lake Natron.

 

[lunsforj]

My red hump eartheaters, breed and behave remarkably similar to African mouth brooders. My male is a terror that constantly defends it's territory with vigor, even against fish twice his size. At least the weaponry isn't really there to do any real damage. Psychologically though, he more or less runs the tank and reminds me of a big angry mbuna in personality.