Odd behavior or something to worry about?

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Flatstanley22

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
May 28, 2017
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I have this sinspilum (6 inch) who is really a gentle giant and also kind of a character. He's been hanging around the corner of the tank with one of his tank mates (a sajica about an inch and a half).

Anyway this odd behavior started amongst the two: the sinspilum swims around the tank but always returns to the same corner that's guarded by the sajica. The sajica then proceeds to be on guard in this corner (with the sinspilum just hanging behind him).

There are two other really small cichlids in the tank who seem slightly intrigued by this corner of the tank but not enough for them to try getting passed the Sajica. I can't figure out what's going on and it's driving me mad lmao. Any thoughts? I've ventured a few ideas but I wanted to hear what you here at MFK have to think! Thank you.

IMG_4532.JPG
 
Sounds to me like they are in love.....When did this start?

Is there any aggression between the two? or any aggression from those two toward the other 2 in the tank? Did the behavior start with the sajica moving rocks around in that corner?

Does the C.Sajica always exhibit such dark coloration? Are there any eggs on the glass or on the rocks by them?

If there aren't any eggs, you can try to rearrange the aquascaping and see if that "resets" the territory?
 
Last edited:
elting44 said:
Sounds to me like they are in love.....When did this start?

Is there any aggression between the two? or any aggression from those two toward the other 2 in the tank? Did the behavior start with the sajica moving rocks around in that corner?

Does the C.Sajica always exhibit such dark coloration? Are there any eggs on the glass or on the rocks by them?

If there aren't any eggs, you can try to rearrange the aquascaping and see if that "resets" the territory?
Click to expand...


Hahaha it does seem like they are in love!
And thanks for responding!

There is zero aggression between the "couple" and the only aggression towards any other fish is delivered from the little Sajica! So as long as the others mind their business there is no aggression whatsoever. Also, I am not positive that any rocks were moved however my sinspilum is notorious for ripping out every plant and rearranging the tank.

The Sajica did not have those exactly colors when I purchased him but he was in a tank with much lighter gravel however, I think his colors did turn more vivid.

Thanks again! I will look for eggs again later tonight but I don't plan on disrupting their territory.
They just peaked my curiousity!
 
Ooh yeah! My Sajica is very similar in color to that one. Only thing is the synspilum is the one that is laying down near the corner and the little Sajica is the defensive one. I feel like the synspilum being as large as he is would be the more protective one but he's not.

I'll keep a close eye on them. Still no eggs visible and the behavior continues.

As a side note, other than the synspilum accompanying the Sajica in the corner he seems healthy and is acting like his normal, goofy self.
 
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Many times in nature, males secure the site, then attract the shoaling spawn ready females to the area. At spawning, the roles reverse, and females stay close with the males guarding the outer perimeter.
Male sajica are very sexually dimorphic (have a different look) from females.
Here is a male.

and often at the same age are 3-4Xs larger
a spawning pair I had

so as you can see a large male cichlid does not intimidate a sajica female.

your most pressing problem will be, if the fry survive what to do with them.
Whether to bombard your local area with mutt fry, or use them as feeders for something else to protect the integrity of the species.
As you can probably discern from my statement, the later option is (IMO) the best option.
 
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I agree with either using them as feeders for another tank or letting the current tank mates opportunistically feed on them.

Or just cull the eggs if they are eventually laid
 
duanes said:
Many times in nature, males secure the site, then attract the shoaling spawn ready females to the area. At spawning, the roles reverse, and females stay close with the males guarding the outer perimeter.
Male sajica are very sexually dimorphic (have a different look) from females.
Here is a male.

and often at the same age are 3-4Xs larger
a spawning pair I had

so as you can see a large male cichlid does not intimidate a sajica female.

your most pressing problem will be, if the fry survive what to do with them.
Whether to bombard your local area with mutt fry, or use them as feeders for something else to protect the integrity of the species.
As you can probably discern from my statement, the later option is (IMO) the best option.
Click to expand...


So who do you believe his the male/female in this scenario? From what I’ve heard and what you’re telling me, the sajica seems to be displaying male behavior by securing the site but it’s lack of size and deep/dark coloring lead me to believe it’s the female.

Also, the fry will likely become feeder fish for another tank of mine... however! I’m not counting the eggs before they hatch because there’s none to be found... but their spawning behavior is still in effect.
 
I made this observation, because you said the synspillum is laying in the corner, on the site but no eggs as yet.
So to me, it sounds like the synspillum has secured the site, and at this point the small sajica is hanging around outside, until absolutely ready to spawn.
And in your photo, the sajica appears to me to be female.
fullsizeoutput_70a.jpeg
 
duanes said:
I made this observation, because you said the synspillum is laying in the corner, on the site but no eggs as yet.
So to me, it sounds like the synspillum has secured the site, and at this point the small sajica is hanging around outside, until absolutely ready to spawn.
And in your photo, the sajica appears to me to be female.
View attachment 1297346
Click to expand...

Ahhhh thank you for clarifying. My curiosity has been satisfied.
 
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