Blue Acara pair fighting over fry?

[cacichlids]

My two Blue Acaras finally spawned successfully... the small female only laid about 50 eggs and they hatched today. They moved the wrigglers from a rock to a hole in the substrate but now they keep fighting and lip-locking. Sometimes the male doesn't even let the female get close to the fry... this has been happening all day but they don't seem to be eating their fry or anything, just arguing with each other.

Yesterday before the eggs hatched I moved the tank around cuz I got some nice rocks that I wanted to add.

Is this normal? If not, what can I do?

 

[smitty03281964]

I don't think distrubing the tank set up is causing the fighting.

 

[Lusus_Naturae]

Probably a stupid question but it came to mind with how you phrased everything - are you sure the male that is protecting the fry is the male? Not doubting you here, but I have seen a few cases where someone had the sexes mixed up and never saw them breed, only the babies afterwards.

I would say if the brood is being cared for then it doesn't matter which one is doing it.