Question on Kok shrinkage

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Angler

Angler

Polypterus
MFK Member
May 8, 2007
6,736
24
92
Colorado
lol.....I had to put that title.

I have read that a FHs kok will shrink when you put him with a mate. My KML's kok was a pretty nice size. I added a female BP, and even weeks after I added her, his kok maintained that size. She layed eggs a few days ago, and his kok is way smaller. What is the reasoning behind this? Furthermore, either the eggs weren't fertilized or they got attacked by fungus because they are pretty much all white now. What about this situation actually made his head shrink so much?
 
Hmm.... interesting. I see the kok thing as mainly a social thing in cichlids, it being the last place they store fat means they don't have to work for their food, and over time it just becomes a status thing that once meant this. They also use it subconciously to show dominance and agression, so it is possible that he reduced it's size in order to appeal more to the female, or to become a better father. IME however i've notice that once babies are born this comes back with a vengance, often even more than before. Of course It could also have to do with diversion of hormones/testosterone or its fishy equivalent, etcetera.
 
Saw your post on FHCraze...and yes it will shrink when they are in a breeding mode or just got done breeding. Just let the male be by itself and start pumping it again. It's kok should pop back out. Oh, and the white eggs means that it is dead eggs.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

I guess my main question that I didn't clarify is - Does the fact that his kok shrank after she laid eggs make it more likely that they are a pair and he attempted to fertilize the eggs? As I said, the eggs aren't fertile. But, I wasn't around to observe whether he fanned over the eggs after they were layed.
 
Angler;4386324; said:
Thanks for the input guys.

I guess my main question that I didn't clarify is - Does the fact that his kok shrank after she laid eggs make it more likely that they are a pair and he attempted to fertilize the eggs? As I said, the eggs aren't fertile. But, I wasn't around to observe whether he fanned over the eggs after they were layed.
Click to expand...

Yep, that is a fact.
 
Angler;4386324; said:
Thanks for the input guys.

I guess my main question that I didn't clarify is - Does the fact that his kok shrank after she laid eggs make it more likely that they are a pair and he attempted to fertilize the eggs? As I said, the eggs aren't fertile. But, I wasn't around to observe whether he fanned over the eggs after they were layed.
Click to expand...

hopefully your male is fertile he is such a beast
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom