Firemouth behavior

[Bethany]

I currently house my firemouth female with two smaller firemouths, a yellow lab and two red zebras [random mix i know].

The two smaller ones are about 2.5-3 inches. I can't tell what sex they are yet.

Anyways, my large female has been carrying rocks in her mouth, and digging a cove around one of my pots, and trying to move backwards into it. She's never done it before, and her colors are brightening.

Could this be like a nesting thing [idk if the others are big enough to mate or even male]? Or is it just odd quirky behavior?

 

[Bethany]

but, i'm assuming the other two to be males. they have slimmer bodies, not rounded like her, more color, and extended dorsals

 

[killerfish]

Thats breeding behavior keep and eye out for eggs from my experience they can show breeding behavior for a while then spawn all of the sudden ( this just happened to me i just came back from a quick 3 day trip and low and behold i've got wigglers right now )

 

[Bethany]

thanks =] !! I was hoping so, but the only things I've had breed was my old guppies and corydoras haha.

Didn't want to get too excited if it wasn't likely to happen

 

[killerfish]

ohh its likely firemouth don't breed as eazy as say cons but still breed pretty eazily

 

[Bethany]

should i feed them differently? they don't seemt o like th etubifex, and they like bloodworms, but with my africans i'm afraid to feed that [that causes africans to get bloat right?]

 

[killerfish]

Not sure about the bloat thing I have little experience with african cichlids but it should hurt if they ate a little blood worms

I would try and get them to eat a good quality pellet mabye some night crawlers to condition them

 

[Bethany]

thanks =]

 

[Cichlaholics Anonymous]

definitely stay away from bloodworms as there are in mbuna in the tank, but there is also a chance that the female could still lay unfertilized eggs in the situation that the males are not present or not ready

 

[Bethany]

their colors have been brilliant the past two days!!!! they've dug up two pot caves and have been swimming right up against one another [the two smaller ones], they keep rubbing their bodies and swimming in circles, is this to be expected? [never bred them before]