Multie Parenting Behavior

[DrgRcr]

I have a m/f pair of Multies in a 20g who have had 2 broods of fry in a month and a half. The first looked to number around 20+, and the second about 10-12. I have read how protective they are of their young, with even older fry guarding younger ones. But since the second batch was born, the mom seems to not want to let the older fry out of their shells. She hovers around, pointed on a downward angle, and if the older guys stray out too far, she dashes toward them, sometimes with sand flying. She never did it before the second batch was born. Any ideas why she's doing this? I didn't expect it.

 

[jpappy789]

I've never seen anything like that, but perhaps she's mistaking the older fry from the younger generation.

 

[mike dunagan]

Is there anything else in the tank? It seems as though she is finding a new threat to the fry. Has the male tried to eat any fry?

 

[DrgRcr]

As far as I know, I've never seen the dad try to go after any fry, but obviously I can't watch him all the time!

 

[jpappy789]

Maybe she's just overprotective. LOL

 

[austinpetemo]

ive seen my males go after fry on the occation. i know that the smaller genereations are chased into their shells by my females. but ive never witnessesed a female chasing large fry into the shells, my large fry just do whatever they want and patrol.

 

[DrgRcr]

The ones that she's chasing austin are barely 1/4" themselves, and the new ones are still that whitish color when they first emerge from the shell. They're probably 2 weeks old. I moved 1 shell with a group of the larger fry further away from the main cluster to see what would happen. Mom just made the longer trip to the new spot to continue to scold them. She's actually starting to intimidate me a bit too!

 

[austinpetemo]

lol. does she bite you? mine are really aggressive towards any foreign object nearing the shell, unless its me. than they run like crazy.

 

[jpappy789]

LOL. the second group of fry probably aren't mature enough for mama to let them patrol the tank

 

[Pittbull]

What Pappy said, she is still young and inexperienced, if she wanted them to be gone they would be, let her mature for a bit and i bet all turns out fine.. If not throw a few small feeder guppies in the tank so she can get her mind straight..