Noodles Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 The other day I noticed one of my female cyps belly starting to bulge so I have been watching closely so that I could watch the breeding display. Today after work I went to see the progress and to my surprise one of the male cyps is holding!!! :well: Has anyone ever heard of this? What are the odds that the eggs are fertilized? thanks Sheldon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 You're sure it's a male? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 You're sure it's a male? Well these are the ones I bought from you. And it is the male with black fins and blue tail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JORG Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 As far as I know male cyps don't hold eggs---none of mine do anyhow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Some males of some species of mouthbrooder have been seen holding eggs in the past by others (I've never personally had any), but to the best of my knowledge they've never kept the eggs for more than a couple days. No females carrying at all? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Some males of some species of mouthbrooder have been seen holding eggs in the past by others (I've never personally had any), but to the best of my knowledge they've never kept the eggs for more than a couple days. No females carrying at all? No females holding. I haven't actually seen the eggs, but his throat is bulging, doesnt eat, and the female that I thought was going to lay eggs is now skinny. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CORVETTE Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Some males of some species of mouthbrooder have been seen holding eggs in the past by others (I've never personally had any), but to the best of my knowledge they've never kept the eggs for more than a couple days. No females carrying at all? Male Arowana's carry the eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayfong Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 Some males of some species of mouthbrooder have been seen holding eggs in the past by others (I've never personally had any), but to the best of my knowledge they've never kept the eggs for more than a couple days. No females carrying at all? Chromotilapia guentheri males hold eggs and I haven't seen it but tanganyikan gobies share, the females hold half term and then transfers eggs to the male. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
African_Fever Posted March 5, 2009 Report Share Posted March 5, 2009 By males I meant males of mouthbrooding cichlids in which the females carry the eggs to term. There are also a number of Tanganyikan sand dwellers (Xeno's etc) that the males can hold to full term or take turns with the females. I suppose thinking about that (with Tangs having a number that share duties compared to no Malawian's that I know of), there is the possibility that the male Cyp may hold the eggs until the fry hatch. It's definitely interesting to think about! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soliver Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 I had this happen to me about a month ago. My Femals auratus had taken on male coloration because she was the most dominant in the tank. You can try and vent your fish to see if its a male for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 I'm not exactly sure how to vent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Burbot Posted March 6, 2009 Report Share Posted March 6, 2009 (edited) I'm not exactly sure how to vent. Hold the fish with thier belly towards you so you can clearly see the area in fromt of the anal fin, this is the vent. There will be an anal pore and a genital papillia. With the females the genital papilia is wider and looks larger then the anal pore. Imagine looking at the vent and seeing two small dots or marks, if you will. Both the marks similar in size with the males. The females have one smaller and one larger. The larger one closest to the base of the anal fin. Something like so: Male Female o <--- anal pore--------> o o <---genital papillia---> O You really need to see some photos or live fish to do this right but I hope this gives you an idea. Cheers :beer: Edited March 6, 2009 by Burbot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 9, 2009 I'm not exactly sure how to vent. Hold the fish with thier belly towards you so you can clearly see the area in fromt of the anal fin, this is the vent. There will be an anal pore and a genital papillia. With the females the genital papilia is wider and looks larger then the anal pore. Imagine looking at the vent and seeing two small dots or marks, if you will. Both the marks similar in size with the males. The females have one smaller and one larger. The larger one closest to the base of the anal fin. Something like so: Male Female o <--- anal pore--------> o o <---genital papillia---> O You really need to see some photos or live fish to do this right but I hope this gives you an idea. Cheers :beer: thanks, do you use a magnifying glass or is it enough to see with the naked eye? I'm about 99.9% sure that it is a male, just because of his coloration, shape, and size. I'll try venting him once I see him eating again. He doesn't look like he's holding anymore but he still swims right up to the food, looks at it, then swims away. And ocasionally it looks like he is juggling eggs in his mouth. Maybe there are just a couple eggs so it doesn't show from the outside? thanks for all the replies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop Eye Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 None of my males have ever held or tried holding.. I did have a female once that looked like a male.. darker fins then the rest of my female.. Just might be a nice looking female Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noodles Posted March 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 None of my males have ever held or tried holding.. I did have a female once that looked like a male.. darker fins then the rest of my female.. Just might be a nice looking female Could be possible. Well he\she started eating again and is acting normal again so i guess i'll try venting this weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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