help in preventing breeding of mbuna

[Savethemall]

Hi, im worried that one of them has eggs in her mouth
her mouth seems a bit puffy to me, can you look and tell me what you think? btw if she has eggs will she eat? i mean if i see her eating that means theres no eggs?
the other fish started to harass her a bit today, it wasent like this befor

the relevant part starts abot after 30 sec

 

[Savethemall]

 

[neutrino]

I can't get a clear view of the mouth in the video. If the female is 'holding' (incubating) eggs, she'll often have a bulge in the throat (how noticeable this is depends on how many eggs). The still photo looks like she has this bulge. They will also exhibit a chewing motion, due to gently moving eggs or fry around in her mouth/throat before the fry develop to the point they're released.

To answer the question Do they breed like guppies? In their determination to breed, they're similar. Most Malawi species are determined breeders, including across species and across genera. They don't necessarily multiply like guppies. Without intervention most fry are typically eaten, especially in a community setting. As to suffering, I won't attempt to define this for your own sensibilities on the subject, but it takes time before the brain and nervous develops to the point that a fish would be capable of sensing stress, pain, etc.

 

[Savethemall]

I can't get a clear view of the mouth in the video. If the female is 'holding' (incubating) eggs, she'll often have a bulge in the throat (how noticeable this is depends on how many eggs). The still photo looks like she has this bulge. They will also exhibit a chewing motion, due to gently moving eggs or fry around in her mouth/throat before the fry develop to the point they're released.

To answer the question Do they breed like guppies? In their determination to breed, they're similar. Most Malawi species are determined breeders, including across species and across genera. They don't necessarily multiply like guppies. Without intervention most fry are typically eaten, especially in a community setting. As to suffering, I won't attempt to define this for your own sensibilities on the subject, but it takes time before the brain and nervous develops to the point that a fish would be capable of sensing stress, pain, etc.

but she is eating, people here said that if shes eating then she dosent have eggs

 

[Itsroger]

It's easy to check, just open her mouth and look , if she's holding you'll see the eggs, if you don't want her to spit fry just make a loop in a bread tie and take them out of her mouth....

 

[DJRansome]

Some holding females can take the occasional pellet without harming the fry. Most will refuse food.

 

[neutrino]

Some holding females can take the occasional pellet without harming the fry. Most will refuse food.

+1
As I mentioned earlier, with a holding female you should also see a chewing motion from time to time (not related to food). Just how often depends on type of fish, how many eggs or fry, and how far along they are (as the fry mature females of many species will 'chew' less often).

--or you can physically check as mentioned above.