I have no tests or evidence leading to my theory, but thought has propelled it.
My idea about why fish parenting degenerates over the generations is that they are not raised in a parenting or threatening environment. It is easiest for fish farms to let the fish lay the eggs and then remove the parents. The fry then grow up with the entire batch. This allows many more fish to be sold than when they are kept with parents. In the wild, fish are constantly facing the threat of survival. Whos going to attack me next? Where is that bigger fish that may eat me? Those other fish better stay away from these babies, or ill beat them down...So naturally, they take care of their babies. Some fish have adapted to different methods of breeding, but cichlids in general stay in one area to breed. This sitting still in one area leads to easy predation of the fry. The need to protect them in order for the population of fish to survive is hightened and measures are taken to ensure that the babies survive.
So, my idea would be to communitize the tank. Add the breeding pair to a larger tank with some top dwelling fish that wont bug the babies, but will pose a threat. Then let the cichlids raise the babies untill they get it down and remove the babies slowly so as to simulate the seperation of the babies from the parents naturally. Although this is all thought up, it could stimulate parenting behaviors. Some cichlids just dont know how to be parents tho, so this plan would work to varying degrees.
My idea about why fish parenting degenerates over the generations is that they are not raised in a parenting or threatening environment. It is easiest for fish farms to let the fish lay the eggs and then remove the parents. The fry then grow up with the entire batch. This allows many more fish to be sold than when they are kept with parents. In the wild, fish are constantly facing the threat of survival. Whos going to attack me next? Where is that bigger fish that may eat me? Those other fish better stay away from these babies, or ill beat them down...So naturally, they take care of their babies. Some fish have adapted to different methods of breeding, but cichlids in general stay in one area to breed. This sitting still in one area leads to easy predation of the fry. The need to protect them in order for the population of fish to survive is hightened and measures are taken to ensure that the babies survive.
So, my idea would be to communitize the tank. Add the breeding pair to a larger tank with some top dwelling fish that wont bug the babies, but will pose a threat. Then let the cichlids raise the babies untill they get it down and remove the babies slowly so as to simulate the seperation of the babies from the parents naturally. Although this is all thought up, it could stimulate parenting behaviors. Some cichlids just dont know how to be parents tho, so this plan would work to varying degrees.
