Odd geophagus behavior, trying to breed???

[JK47]

Of the new Abalios I got a week or so ago, two have clearly formed a pair. Tonight I went out to feed the 225g and all of the other fish are on the right side of the tank and not budging.

Here is the behavior I am watching and want to know if this is typical breeding behavior from the experts:
1) On the left side of the tank the pair has dug a large pit in the sand next to some wood all the way to the bottom of the acylic, not normal for mine.
2) The male hovers over the female and flares out his gill plates. He "shimmies" over her for lack of a better way to put it and won't let her out of his sight.
3) She keeps shaking her body over the pit blowing away sand.
4) The males colors are VERY bright.
5) Any fish that comes near is pushed back by the male. Even fish they normally could care less about like the Uaru and Acarichthys.

Is this breeding behavior? They are both currently about 7" in size. I have never bred geos before so any feedback is appreciated if it is.

Justin-

 

[peathenster]

sounds like it - should have eggs in a day or two

congrats!!

 

[JK47]

sounds like it - should have eggs in a day or two

congrats!!

Appreciate the response Peter! The smaller (I believe is female) gently "bites" the male from the side on the midlateral spot. The male then goes sideways over the top of her and flares out his gill plates but she does not move or run and hise as she did before. They repeat this pattern over and over....

If he flares to my other larger abalios they scuffle and leave each others territory. When I first introduced them to the tank if either flared at her, she would run and hide behind wood right away but the two would stay and finish it until one left. Can I assume these two are male and the timid female? I obviously have a pair so I am trying to use this to help determine sex. I know they are isomorphic but the behavior seems to be a good indicator as to sex. What do you think?

 

[peathenster]

Appreciate the response Peter! The smaller (I believe is female) gently "bites" the male from the side on the midlateral spot. The male then goes sideways over the top of her and flares out his gill plates but she does not move or run and hise as she did before. They repeat this pattern over and over....

If he flares to my other larger abalios they scuffle and leave each others territory. When I first introduced them to the tank if either flared at her, she would run and hide behind wood right away but the two would stay and finish it until one left. Can I assume these two are male and the timid female? I obviously have a pair so I am trying to use this to help determine sex. I know they are isomorphic but the behavior seems to be a good indicator as to sex. What do you think?

Patience buddy In a day or two it would all be clear. It's probably a good time to start thinking about fry wood

Post some videos if you can - don't see abalios breed very often.

 

[HrHagel]

Oh yes they are definately trying to breed

The female shaking her body in the sand, is something they do when the fry is hatched, for the fry to feed on the various debree, her doing it now is her being confused, since it's instinct to do so as the mother, she just doesn't know when exactly to do it, but she is definately in that breeding mood, and this if it is what i think it is, is a definate sign that she will be laying down the eggs very soon

 

[Scubarod]

hey...sweet tank by the way. my tapajos do that all the time. they have spawn severl time but never keep the eggs...too much pressure.

good luck on the spawn!!

 

[edburress]

The extensive pit, head quivering, and nudging the side of their mate are all classic Geophagus courting behaviors. If you don't have medium-large river stones, I would introduce some to the territory, they'll prefer to breed on those. It won't disrupt them. The female will pick up the eggs immediately after fertilization.

Good luck, I'd like to see some pictures/video of the courting behaviors and breeding coloration.

Ed

 

[EdCal]

Justin, take some pics. would love to see

 

[JK47]

The extensive pit, head quivering, and nudging the side of their mate are all classic Geophagus courting behaviors. If you don't have medium-large river stones, I would introduce some to the territory, they'll prefer to breed on those. It won't disrupt them. The female will pick up the eggs immediately after fertilization.

Good luck, I'd like to see some pictures/video of the courting behaviors and breeding coloration.

Ed

Thanks Ed! I appreciate your advice. I'll get some river rocks in the tank ASAP. I have some from a previous tank I can use. I'll try and gets pics tonight when I get home. I don't have a video camera but my P&S camera will let me shoot short vids. I'll see if I can upload a vid from that.

 

[JK47]

Justin, take some pics. would love to see

Will do Ed!

I just realized why this probably happened. I do my water changes religiously on Sundays. My son hopped in the shower while I was refilling the tank so the temp dropped about 6 degrees once I was done. I noticed it and hooked up my 400W and pulled out the 250W Sunday night. They must have thought it was the rainy season.