Crazy fish behavior

S

Stidham

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Jan 17, 2004
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Ok, here's what I've got going on.

In my 55 I've got a pair of Red Blood parrots. (I bought them before I found out they were hybrids.) and some other SA ciclids. Everybody seems to get a long pretty well. I've got a sand substrate with some rocks and a piece of driftwood and plastic plants.

One day I noticed a pile of sand where there wasn't one before. I thought maybe the return from my filter was making a current and moving the sand around. Then I noticed one of the Reds spitting out sand. So I watched for a while. It's digging the hole while the other keeps guard, running off anyone else. Sometimes it will help. I evened the sand back out again, but they are at it again. I'm worried it going to cause my rock to shift and kill one or fall against the side of the tank.

I know they are suppose to be sterile, but could they be building a nest?
 
They may indeed be showing breeding behavior. Let them do it. I doubt they will produce any fry but that are engaged in something somewhat natural, you may as well just enjoy the behavior.

Since they are comfortable enough to show this behavior, you can assume they are in generally good health.
 
not all of them are screwed up enough to be sterile. even if you get a pair that cannot produce viable eggs, one fish or the other may still be fertile.

i know it's a little late now (or maybe not too late) but this is why it's a good idea to place structural rocks on the bottom of the tank, not on top of the sand. cichlids like to redecorate, even the hybrid ones.
 
there mating, my blood parrot and fire mouth have done it 3 times. I feel bad as he is in fertile. She lays toms of eggs, then for 2 weeks pace back and forth waiting, digging holes moving sand. poor things :(
 
In my tanks with lots of rock, I use egg crate on the bottom then place the rock, then the gravel or sand. If the cichlids start rearranging, and they will, the rocks are more stable and I don't have to worry about a rock cracking the glass bottom.
 
rbishop said:
In my tanks with lots of rock, I use egg crate on the bottom then place the rock, then the gravel or sand. If the cichlids start rearranging, and they will, the rocks are more stable and I don't have to worry about a rock cracking the glass bottom.
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x2.
 
rbishop said:
In my tanks with lots of rock, I use egg crate on the bottom then place the rock, then the gravel or sand. If the cichlids start rearranging, and they will, the rocks are more stable and I don't have to worry about a rock cracking the glass bottom.
Click to expand...

where can you buy egg crate?
 
At most any harware store that sells lighting fixtures...Lowes, Home Depot, HQ...
 
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