I have had my pair a week today, and they are already showing breeding behavior!
They are in a bare holding/quarantine tank, with just the filter, heater, some sand, about 20 other baby cichlids who are 1-2 inches, and a 6-7 inch pair of Synspilum. The male hasn't let the lack of privacy in their living situation impede his courtship! He has cleared the sand away from one corner, and is guarding that 6 inch square patch from intruders. He is also showing off some of his fancy moves to female, and the one he thinks is most impressive involves standing on his head in the special corner while shaking what his mama gave him! The female seems a little oblivious to his efforts, because she keeps wandering off from the lovenest, with him in furious pursuit trying to bring her back. He also likes to challenge the big male Synspilum to fight him, just to show his girl how brave he is, however this has not worked out well from him since the male Synspilum is a pacifist, and despite all the Ocellifer's flaring and attempts at lip locking, the Syn just gives him blank stare and ignores him, which is very disconcerting to the poor male Oc.
Excited to see them breed for real when I get them in their permanent tank!
They are in a bare holding/quarantine tank, with just the filter, heater, some sand, about 20 other baby cichlids who are 1-2 inches, and a 6-7 inch pair of Synspilum. The male hasn't let the lack of privacy in their living situation impede his courtship! He has cleared the sand away from one corner, and is guarding that 6 inch square patch from intruders. He is also showing off some of his fancy moves to female, and the one he thinks is most impressive involves standing on his head in the special corner while shaking what his mama gave him! The female seems a little oblivious to his efforts, because she keeps wandering off from the lovenest, with him in furious pursuit trying to bring her back. He also likes to challenge the big male Synspilum to fight him, just to show his girl how brave he is, however this has not worked out well from him since the male Synspilum is a pacifist, and despite all the Ocellifer's flaring and attempts at lip locking, the Syn just gives him blank stare and ignores him, which is very disconcerting to the poor male Oc.
Excited to see them breed for real when I get them in their permanent tank!
