Fullofit343

I currently have 3 electric yellows and 4 blue johannis in a 55 gallon. all of the johannis and electric yellows are normally very active except for one. I have one electric yellow who picked a cave in the center of the tank right at the bottom and that's where he/she (too small to tell) stays for most of the time. he'll poke his head out and occasionally come up but when he does he stays in that area. OCCASIONALLY he'l come out and join the others but it is a very rare occasion. is this just a dominance thing?

MissMTS

Your yellow lab could just be getting picked on a bit by the other fish. I have yellow labs in my tank of Africans, and being some of the more peaceful fish in the tank, they often submit to the more aggressive species. I find that sometimes my females like to hang out in the rock crevices instead of swimming around the tank. My females also often hide if they are holding fry. As long as the fish doesn't seem injured or seriously stressed, I wouldn't worry about it. Is your fish eating?

Angela_96

The african mbuna have a "pecking order" from the king of the tank, sidekicks, the ones who get picked on, and the ones who will just stay out of trouble.

I read an article on this and how they are like 5 year olds literally about their groups. I can go through my tanks and tell which is which.

Fullofit343

You know i was thinking about waht you both said before but when the electric yellow does come out and swim around with the others none of them attack him or chase him. he swims around with them just like all the others do and they get along fine. he seems to be very protective of that area though. he sometimes will chase other cichlids away from it and sort of guard it. i never saw any signs of the cichlids breeding. could i maybe happened at the LFS and i was lucky enough to get a breeding pair (i took all the electric yellows the lfs had all from the same tank) is there anyway i can check?

Fullofit343

The buccal cavity doesn't really look enlarged so i don't think she is carrying. is it possible that she laid her eggs back there?

Angela_96

They wouldn't lay their eggs. The eggs are only dropped for a tenth of a second while the male/female swim in a circle and the female picks it up. This happens over and over until they are done spawning.

The male will however prepare a territory where he will want to spawn.

cichlidsmad

my first male yellow did that and still does even though hes the most agressive fish in the tank once i took out the kenyi.