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nests
Oct 30, 2008 9:56:51 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Oct 30, 2008 9:56:51 GMT -5
does anyone have a picture of a nest a yellow lab made or what the eggs look like? or for that matter, what eggs would look like on a plant from a blue ram?
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 11:03:43 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Oct 30, 2008 11:03:43 GMT -5
The Labs, or if you want to use the Scientific name John, they are Labidochromis Careleus, are mouth brooders so the eggs, if any at all, would be in the mouth, not externally. I doubt they'd try to breed just yet. At four months of age, that's a little early for them. I'd think maybe more towards six months, but hey you never know I guess. However though, if you see them on the ground or on a site, they would be unfertilized or she dumped them.
They are white in appearence, in fact, I can attempt to shoot her mom's mouth, since she's holding another brood. Tank is really cloudy still, not sure if I can get a good shot. How you'll know if any female is holding a brood, she won't eat food, at all. Watch close too. As you noted before, fish acts different, it attracts attention, so she would liable to pass near food and mimic eating, but close observation will show, she wouldn't let food in her mouth. As the time progresses, I have personally noted, gills appear to be pushed out, the classic pouch or bulge in the jaw/throat area, and the mouth won't open really all that much. These are all signs to try to look in on a female. Many times, they won't face you directly, so if you are fortunate enough to have a case where she'll look at you, then try to peek right down her mouth.
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 11:14:32 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Oct 30, 2008 11:14:32 GMT -5
I didn't have too many images, but these two are their mom. First one, look at the gill showing, see how it appears to be bent out? This one, not the best there is to show the little pouch but try to look at that if you can.
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 14:00:34 GMT -5
Post by murdock6701 on Oct 30, 2008 14:00:34 GMT -5
I thought the male made a nest and she laid the egss and them scooped them up after they were fertilized......shows ya how much I know!
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 15:30:48 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Oct 30, 2008 15:30:48 GMT -5
I haven't seen any pits being dug out really. Males might do this for some sense of privacy in a community tank. 8 or Bill jump in here on that aspect. Sometimes clay pots work good for some species as the surrounding cover gives extra sense of security. I've found almost all the mouth brooders in my tanks, appreciate and look for nice flat surfaces to lure a female over. One time I have seen them do it right in the gravel, but to me, the flat surface makes sense. Eggs being small and round could get lodged in gravel and fish seem to know this somehow and really look to find a nice flat piece of slate to do their business on.
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 15:32:13 GMT -5
Post by jonv on Oct 30, 2008 15:32:13 GMT -5
In the wild of course, in those lakes, especially at deeper depths, you probably wouldn't find a large amount of slate just sitting around waiting to be used. I've seen the Tangyangika video's and the pits were mostly to exclude out ground trolling predators and competitors from interfering with the spawning process.
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 17:08:35 GMT -5
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 30, 2008 17:08:35 GMT -5
all of the yellows i have seen here build nests that resemble craters in the gravel. the male is very protective of them as well. i have seldom seen lab eggs in anything but a crater type nest.
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nests
Oct 30, 2008 17:11:25 GMT -5
Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 30, 2008 17:11:25 GMT -5
although.....it very possibly could be the female dumped them as well though.
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nests
Oct 31, 2008 21:40:18 GMT -5
Post by eve on Oct 31, 2008 21:40:18 GMT -5
the behaviour you will see with the yellows, is that they will dig a hole in the gravel or hide out in a decoration
i have never seen any eggs, but check the thread i made about breeding yellows, it has quite a few pics as well as lots of info on it
found under mouthbrooders
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