The male defends the nest.I lost 1 7"+ red due to the sharp end of Cujo last week.I waited untill the fry dug into the gravel befor I sucked them out.I dunno If I will do it like that again though...he is just tooo nasty when he is guarding the fry,half of the 180 is his when he is nesting.As I am typing this He and the female are at it again.I will mostlikely have eggs in the morning again.