One of the best ways to capture an image of a cichlid is to observe and understand their behavior in the fish tank. I have the Managuense down pat.
I wanted to show how the pair would spend a lot of time keeping newly born fry in a neat pile. They had already done that.
...so I simply put my finger against the tank and they responded by attacking the glass and effectively scattering the new fry. From that point the pair went on a mission to recollect the fry and bring them back to a central location.
I'm always amazed that a fish with such a large mouth will take the time and have the ability to gather and spit the fry back in the pile.
The male would spend a lot of time searching all of the nooks and crannies for strays.
The female would "reward each return trip by mouthing him...whether out of frustration or motivation..i don't know.
But ultimately I wanted a shot with the female with an open mouth on the male. It took several attempts, but I finally got this final shot.
I wanted to show how the pair would spend a lot of time keeping newly born fry in a neat pile. They had already done that.
...so I simply put my finger against the tank and they responded by attacking the glass and effectively scattering the new fry. From that point the pair went on a mission to recollect the fry and bring them back to a central location.
I'm always amazed that a fish with such a large mouth will take the time and have the ability to gather and spit the fry back in the pile.
The male would spend a lot of time searching all of the nooks and crannies for strays.
The female would "reward each return trip by mouthing him...whether out of frustration or motivation..i don't know.
But ultimately I wanted a shot with the female with an open mouth on the male. It took several attempts, but I finally got this final shot.
