Breeding red hump eartheaters

[kribkid17]

My red hump eartheaters are about to spawn I think. The male and a female have staked out a flower pot and are defending it alot. Aldo I see the males breeding tube. I have read that they are mouthbrooders so this is a new experence for me. I hope she doesn't eat the eggs.

[Jackielee]

Great news, raise some and share. I wanted those but would not bid against you so raise me some fry! Congrats.

Jack

[kribkid17]

Well they didn't spawn but on a better note my African butterfly cichlids are popping eggs out right now.

[kribkid17]

Yipee! I think that they spawned! I had a coconut that I knocked over when I was catching my abcs and I think they used that. The females egg tube is out, she is really skinny and her mouth is really big and she is keeping tithe shadows and the male is really protective over her. Maybe your wish will come true Jack

[Jackielee]

FINTASTIC!

[snakeskinner]

I found out they are excellent fry protectors so make sure you remove any tankmates you don't want beat to a pulp. Mine successfully had a swarm of fry in a 55 with many schooling fish, several other cichlids, corydoras and pleco's. I didn't even know they spawned until I noticed every other fish in the tank was in one tiny corner. The female was attacking everyone while the male was guarding the swarm... congrats, Kyle

[kribkid17]

I took some pictures but my computer won't let me upload them. The females throat seems to be bigger than before, is that normal? The only other fish in there are a bunch of smaller kribs that hide and 2 pairs of Adrian butterfly cichlids and if I've heard right, abcs can take a beating because they were labeled excellent dither fish.

[etheonut]

red hump eartheaters are mouthbrooders so the enlarged throat is to expected

http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/g ... chneri.php

Kevin

[mewickham]

I took some pictures but my computer won't let me upload them.

I might be able to help, if you describe the problems. Were you trying to upload as an attachment to a message, or to the standalone Gallery? Did your files have a standard .jpg suffix (usually the best choice for photos)? The forum won't accept .RAW, .CRF, or .NEF files-- which are camera-specific extensions. Also be sure your files aren't too big. I'm not sure what the size limits of the forum are offhand, but a file that's 640 x 480 pixels or smaller should go through fine. (If your software has a Save for Web feature to shrink file size, use it so that the files (even if they do upload) aren't too slow to download for those on dialup.

If you upload photos into the standalone Gallery (not the Gallery message section), you can then compose a message that links to them by clicking on the "g2Img" button in the editor window. The standalone Gallery holds bigger files.

[kribkid17]

Update: she is still holding the eggs and her throat continues to get larger. I think I am able to make out the eggs and the eyes of the fry. Is that sounding right or are my eyes going bad?

[Jackielee]

Sounds perfectly right and very exciting!

[kribkid17]

heres an older photo of the female:

[kribkid17]

my male:

[Jackielee]

Great shots keep posting and especially post baby shots when it happens.

jack

[kribkid17]

Sorry, I have been out of town for a week so I haven't been able to check on them. I will post updates when I get home.

[kribkid17]

Well I'm back and guess what I saw when I went into my room! The female had a school of about 20 fry darting into her mouth!!!!!! It is so cool to watch the fry go out then dart into the moms mouth! I can't get any pics becauseshe is really picky about when she let's the fry out.

[Jackielee]

That is a very cool and kind of rare sight to see. Sounds like she is doing well with the spawn. Keep up the good work. She will leave them out more as they grow. Be sure to start putting food in for the fry to eat to. She will release them so she can eat and so they can also. Need to setup a video camera and leave the room with it running. Cool stuff.

Jack

[kribkid17]

That sounds possible because she hangs out in the back right corner.

[kribkid17]

Well I have some bad news, I was going to wait until it was dark that way I could get a flashlight and catch her while she was asleep so it would be less stressful but when I found her her throat looked empty and I didn't see and fry around her. Do you think she ate them or some one else did? I was feeding daphnia and crushed flakes lanched at the mom via turkey baster. I did notice the mom was eating while she had them in her mouth, do you think she could of accidentally swallowed them?

[Jackielee]