Kennyi False Pregnancy

[gobucks1]

Well, my female kennyi is holding again and there are no male kennyis in the tank. I realize that they can hybridize with other mbuna but the only sexually mature males in the tank are 2 Blue Johannis, an OB Peacock and a Purple Acei. I assume that all of these species are two different from a kennyi to successfully cross with her.

This is the second time she was holding and last time for just a day she was holding, but this time her mouth seems a lot bigger.

Is it common behavior for them to have eggs and them be unferitilized?

 

[ibr3ak]

Pretty common for most malawi mouthbrooders to hybridize, irregardless of their appearance.

 

[gobucks1]

So regardless of their species they can breed?
THe offspring might be viable?
So why was the first batch gone within a day?

 

[ibr3ak]

Your female kenyi could have spawned with johanni and acei, and highly possible with a peacock (as far as I recall ob's are a hybrid of mbuna and a peacock), not at the same time obviously .

Sometimes first spawns are unsuccessful, which results in infertile eggs, that a fish would eventually swallow.

 

[gobucks1]

Okay thanks, she has cleared the area under a rock of gravel and is keeping all fish away. Would she keep away her mate?

 

[ibr3ak]

Probably will, they're not a pairing fish, once she's holding the male will move to other baby mamas if there are any in the tank.

 

[gobucks1]

I know, i just wasn't sure if they would at least pair up while she had the eggs. I guess not. Which would you guess it is or the mature males? Im thinking one of the Johannis.

I'm also kind of surprised i didn't see her lay them and him fertilize them, i was only gone for school For 8 hours. Or will they do it while the lights are out?

 

[ibr3ak]

You can suspect any male 2.5"-3"+ to be the father. The way they fertilize the eggs is they do a little circle 69 style type dance, while the female holds the eggs in her mouth she goes after the males eggspots thinking they're actually eggs, trying to grab them, at this time he does the moneyshot into her mouth to fertilize the eggs (can't believe I actually talk about fish porn, how freaking dorky).

There was a video of lake tang fish in the wild on youtube, they show the whole act up close and personal.

 

[gobucks1]

Wow the was very....ehrmm.....descriptive........thanks

Thanks for your help, i think i'll just let the female stay in the tank and let the babies get eaten. If they survive, they survive.