Parachromis Cross-Breeding Homosexuality?

[Cichlidholic]

So...these are both male right? Spots, strong color...

I'm just waiting for the dovii to figure out he's dating a dude. I hope no one gets hurt.

Now the female RTM is jealous and trying to show her stuff off to the dudes...poor girl I think she's developing a complex.

 

[Ctrl_Alt_Dlt]

Here is my lesbian pair of white convicts I had in college. Female cons have the orange spot on the side. The pic doesnt show it well because when they were breeding, their orange color became less bright. Anyways, notice the eggs are white. They bred all the time. This was my 29 gallon where I housed 6 female cons.

When I bought these females, they were in a 55 gallon tank with over 100 female cons.

I have also seen a green terror female trying to breed with a female oscar as well. Never took pics though. Eggs were laid all the time.

 

[Aquamojo]

It's not unheard of for cichlid fish to change sex. Not saying it's happening here, but it can and does happen. Dr. George Barlow wrote about the "plasticity" of the cichlid fish in his book, aptly titled "The Cichlid Fishes".

The behavior you are describing could very well be two juvenile male fish "learning" the breeding process...refining it really...it's instinctual. The head shaking and displaying could just be the two fish doing what comes naturally. i would think that at some point the behavior could escalate to violence. Good luck.

 

[Cichlidholic]

Well from what has been said, I'll carefully watch the violence in the tank (I already am as you can see that the tank is populated with aggressive cichlids). I know from experience that breeding and fighting is a fine line. From the pics you can already see that the male mota had his tail nipped. Luckily it seems to be growing back.

 

[the animal guy]

i would think that at some point the behavior could escalate to violence. Good luck.

yep. for sure when they grow up they will do what cichlids do. Kick the other one's butt