Panamanian G.T.s spawning

[duanes]

On the eve of Carneval here in Panama, two of the Panamanian G.T.s (Andinoacara coeruleopunctatus, in the parlance of our time) caught about a month ago in a tributary of the Rio Pacora, near San Martin, began to exhibit the ritualistic pre-spawning behavior. The largest male, slightly over 5” and a female about 2/3rds his size, (of the group of 8 Andinoacara individuals) have taken over at least 50% of the 180 gal bow front tank, and are driving all other Chorgorro to the other end.

This in combination with a lot of synchronized swimming, head to tail slapping, with the female displaying very bright and contrasting markings, all a normal part of cichlid a soon to be a spawn event.

The females base light colored areas, are especially bright, and dark barred areas much more intensely dark than normal. They continued driving away any other cichlids from the chosen half of their 6 ft tank. It was interesting that they ignored what might become the primary fry predator, a formidable Roeboides tetra, similar in size to the female of the Chogorro pair, that hovered over the chosen spot as its territory.

I also find it interesting that many cichlid spawns in my tanks, have seemed to corresponded to religious, or traditional holidays and human celebrations, I theorize the timing may have had its impetus prompting the Pagan observation of the seasonal events that are the basis of timing for even religious events.

Dec thru April, is the dry season here in Panama, and is the Chogorros normal time for spawning.

They continued this behavior for another week before wrestling over a pile of leaves to the corner, and spawning on one of them.
This use of leaf littler as a portable substrate, in the event of threat, and is thought to be an evolutionary transition to mouth brooding.

At this point, the female is remaining within inches of the eggs, while the male chases off the other Andinoacara trying to keep them on the opposite 50% of the tank. Although I can see the eggs, getting my camera to see and show them, has been elusive.

 

[MrsE88]

Congrats on the spawn!
The color on those guys in beautiful. I bet they look even better in person.

 

[duanes]

In the last pic, I torqued out the color with editing in order to try and make the eggs visible, not very successfully so far.
The tank has no artificial lighting at all, so with different sun positions, their colors change throughout the day.
It is surrounded by what I was told are wild tobacco plants, that drop leaves constantly into the tank now that it is the dry season.

She has begun cleaning an area near the front of the tank, I'm hoping it where she may place fry after they become wrigglers.

 

[tlindsey]

Congrats Duane.

 

[Gourami Swami]

Well that didn't take long! Colors are great on these guys,

 

[duanes]

Spawning colors on the female are especially intense compared to the norm.
a female in normal coloration

Here is the one guarding here spawn.

The male also seems to be taking more of an interest in guarding the spawn than before, switching off, as she drives any other Andinoacara that cross the 50% of the tank DMZ

 

[TigerTalon1]

Wow! I never heard of that species before, hopefully species like these will be more readily available to the hobby in the coming years. What are the differences between these and regular Rivulatus coloration wise?

 

[duanes]

Here's the female defending the spawning area, anything that get within a foot is quickly pushed or chased away.

 

[duanes]

Bit of a ruckus when the entire group of Andinoacara tore apart a shrimp, spread over the feeding frenzy over entire tank, and ended up including the spawn, quickly devoured, of course.

 

[Hybridfish7]

So since their spawning aligns with dry seasons, would draining the tank slowly over a week once a pair forms induce spawning? I'm getting a pair very soon.