Solo mouth brooder holding eggs

[tiger15]

Has anyone witnessed a solo female mouthbrooder lay eggs and hold.

I have a female aulonocara housed with her juvenile offspring in a grow out tank. There is no adult male, and none of the juvies show color. One day I found her stopped eating and held eggs, so I assumed she must have mated with one of her immatured son. In 2 weeks I stripped her, and found all eggs unfertilized.

I have seen solo egg layer females lay eggs, but never female mouthbrooders. Can it happen?

 

[deeda]

Yes they can lay and hold unfertilized eggs and it's common in a tank with no males available to fertilize the eggs.

 

[tiger15]

Yes they can lay and hold unfertilized eggs and it's common in a tank with no males available to fertilize the eggs.

Have you witnessed yourself.

I am wondering if her immatured son could have mated with her resulting in unfertilized eggs. She has held eggs twice but I have never witnessed courtship activities.

 

[deeda]

Yes I have!

How big are the juvies in the tank?

 

[tiger15]

The largest juvies are 1 inch. She is 2.5 inch. As always, she is a dependable egg holder,