Is it breeding behavior when....

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi,

Is it breeding behavior when you see a cichlid shake itself, kinda like having a seizure. The fish is female and is healthy, so its gotta be some kinda behavior thing. I got a blue acara male and a firemouth male, the female is a rainbow cichlid. Shes got a chubby belly and shes real dark right now. But Ive seen her dark before and it changes.

All the fish get along and her and the FM male are always hanging together and they are nippy with eachother too, its playful nipping though.

I seen her shaking at the blue acara and he turned around and tried to bite her. Then she did it at the FM and he did the same. I see them flare gills, I see them play bite, I see the female kinda like biting at the tail and vent/anus area too, but soft pecks, not real biting. And it seems the Blue acara and FM dont like it. Can these fish even breed together? Im not hoping on it though.

Thanks

 

[bigspizz]

I have seen shaking in courtship, aggression, introduction, and claiming of territory. You know your fish best.

 

[Tilapia-mariae]

I have seen shaking in courtship, aggression, introduction, and claiming of territory. You know your fish best.

+1

My JD male did it out of territory and courtship, my GT does it out of aggression/territory - both were males.

 

[Pyramid_Party]

I do sometimes see a little fin flickering. This happens once in awhile though, I seen this with all fish. But 1st time I seen this shaking. So its possibly courtship behavior. Theres no real aggression with these fish, they get along so well. Soon I am gonna add a sajica into the mix, dont know what might come of this. No way to tell the sex either since its a fry right now growing out.