Geophagus Abalios breeding?

[Jakob]

I have a pair of Abalios in a 125g with other tankmates. The male is around 6" and female around 5-6".
They have never ate much these couple of months I have had them, for the last week or so they have been eating more and more.
For a couple of days they have been flaring like crazy at each other, and the male is kind of showing off to the female.
Could this be breeding behavior?
What are Abalios usual breeding behavior?
Are they mouthbrooders like some other Geos?

 

[katie_89]

they are mouthbroders like the most others.
but how do u know its a female and a male?
have they breed before?
are u giving them frozen food?

 

[Jakob]

they are mouthbroders like the most others.
but how do u know its a female and a male?
have they breed before?
are u giving them frozen food?

Im almost 100% sure they are a male and a female, depending on the elongated fins on the male.
No they haven't bred before.
Sometimes I give them frozen shrimp but usually just protein rich pellets.

 

[JK47]

I have a pair of Abalios in a 125g with other tankmates. The male is around 6" and female around 5-6".
They have never ate much these couple of months I have had them, for the last week or so they have been eating more and more.
For a couple of days they have been flaring like crazy at each other, and the male is kind of showing off to the female.
Could this be breeding behavior?
What are Abalios usual breeding behavior?
Are they mouthbrooders like some other Geos?

Yes they are mouth brooders. I've read of this species digging pits in substrate but mine only spawned on large smooth rocks. Both parents were religous about cleaning the site and prepping it before the actual spawn. They will defend that area from other fish in the tank. If this is their first spawn don't expect too much from them. I have never had a geo species get it right the first time. Also using fin extentions (filiaments) is not an acurate way of sexing, you will need to vent them or wait for them to spawn to be sure.

 

[Jakob]

Yes they are mouth brooders. I've read of this species digging pits in substrate but mine only spawned on large smooth rocks. Both parents were religous about cleaning the site and prepping it before the actual spawn. They will defend that area from other fish in the tank. If this is their first spawn don't expect too much from them. I have never had a geo species get it right the first time. Also using fin extentions (filiaments) is not an acurate way of sexing, you will need to vent them or wait for them to spawn to be sure.

Thanks, I'm not trying to get them to spawn really.. So I won't vent them until they get bigger at least.