Convict Cichlid Spawn Behavior

Hey everyone,

I have a pair of convicts that I got about 20 days ago. Eggs were laid yesterday (5/3/18)! It looks like they spawned and the female is being really protective of the eggs. She is constantly chasing off the male, lip locking with him, and also nipping at his fins. The female will leave her cave and chase him off even if he is further away. Is this normal behavior cause I thought both parents were supposed to raise and protect the eggs/fry?

Is it possible these eggs aren't even fertilized if she isn't getting along with this male?

How would you all suggest I proceed? I don't really have another spare tank to place the male in. Also, if the eggs hatch in the next few days, I have never breed fish so would crushed up flakes or algae wafers be enough for the fry to survive?

Just in case you need to know, my tank is a 30 gal and the only two fish in there are my convicts (each is about 1.5 inches long). Water parameters are normal and temp is 78F.

Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for your help in advance!!!

 

That's weird normally the male protects her and baby fish normally need live foods to get nutrients

 

Yeah, I thought so too. The female is being really good at tending to her eggs, but the male hangs out in the corner far away from her. Every now and then, she leaves her nest to go nip at him even if he is far away. Any suggestions on what to do?

 

Maybe separate them or put a tank divider

Unless it's because it's just them in the tank or it's too small for them and she needs room to grow her babies

 

Are there any males in the tank? Any other Cichlid male I meant. Because chances are the convict male could have been cuck'd. And this behavior will show up, even if the other male does not attend to his own fry. In my case its the male that protects the fry. I have 4 pairs of convict, working in live feeder making factories

 

Are the two convicts close to the same size? Small males often get pushed away by females, even if they did let them fertilize the eggs. Normally she wants a big, strong male to defend the territory while she keeps an eye on the eggs/fry. If there aren't any external threats, she may start to see him as one.

However, anything is possible with fish that have been aquarium bred for 50-60 generations. "Normal" behavior for wild fish doesn't necessarily apply.

 

The convicts are a similar size. The eggs are fertilized cause I see a few hatching today! That confirms that I do have one male and one female, no other fish besides the two in the 30 gal. I separated the male for now with a divider in the same tank (cause I don't have a spare right now).

I do want to get some additional advice soon: When do I start adding food for the fry (i.e. how long does nutrients last from the yolk sac)?
The fry are wiggling, but seem to still be attached to their eggs this morning.

 

When the fry come up off the bottom and swim, it is time to feed. Live or frozen bbs, microworms, powdered fry foods (NLS has a fairly decent one).

 

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