every time i turn around there is the sound of gravel moving, and when i look at my tank, there is a mound of gravel in this one spot and 2 labs are right near it. i flattened it down today when changing the water, but i just noticed that it is back. is this a possible nest where a female may lay her eggs for the male to fertilize? or what else could it be?
are my labs building a nest?
- Thread starter AquariumLover
- Start date
Labs., like other Africans, dig somewhat, but don't really build/dig "nests".
In some species, the male digs a pit or burrow to attract a female, but the eggs are not laid here.
They are mouthbrooders, meaning the female lays an egg, the male ferts. it, and the female turns back around and picks it up in her mouth (buccal cavity).
This process repeats until all the eggs she has are fertilized and in her mouth.
She "holds" them for a few weeks until they hatch and can "hopefully" fend for themselves, where she "spits" them out.
Sometimes they will stay close to her where they will run back into her mouth to escape danger, and other times they will just hide wherever they can get to the fastest.
In some species, the male digs a pit or burrow to attract a female, but the eggs are not laid here.
They are mouthbrooders, meaning the female lays an egg, the male ferts. it, and the female turns back around and picks it up in her mouth (buccal cavity).
This process repeats until all the eggs she has are fertilized and in her mouth.
She "holds" them for a few weeks until they hatch and can "hopefully" fend for themselves, where she "spits" them out.
Sometimes they will stay close to her where they will run back into her mouth to escape danger, and other times they will just hide wherever they can get to the fastest.
Often male mbuna will dig a 'bower' pit to atract interested females. Thats probabaly whats going on here. Good luck!