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in a spot under one of my rocks they have cleared a spot that is flat( i know they lay eggs on a flat surface). lately they have been more "loving" to each other.(dont chase each other.they all so do the"cichlid Shake"lol! and one aapears to have a lump like thing possibly to hold young?in his throat.

other tank mates
1 Pl*co

I am not an African person but I think that normally the females are the holders. To tell male from female I want to say you look for brighter egg spots and more color on a male. I hope that halps! By the way I am not an African person...just making sure thats clear!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

If theres a lump in the throat and you havent fed within a few hours, it's holding eggs. Zebras are great holders so dont bother stripping the female.

Usually the bulge shrinks a little after a few days (infertilized eggs) then gets a little more bulgy towards the end.

I would strip the female after 18 days (free swimming)

ok well when should they lay them?

If one of them has a lump in the throat, it already has laid its.

The way mouthbrooders breed (in this case zebras) is that the male entices the female. After a little shaking and nudging, the female lays a couple of eggs. The female turns around and picks up the egg. The male shakes his egg spot and the female thinks it's an egg, so she tries to pick it up. The male then releases sperm. This repeats multiple times till she finishes laying eggs.

After they are done, the female's throat will have the bulge.

If your interested in the process:

Female laying eggs
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/llblizzardll/detail?.dir=9b77&.dnm=fc54.jpg&.src=ph
Male shaking egg spot and fertilizing
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/llblizzardll/detail?.dir=9b77&.dnm=17f7.jpg&.src=ph
Reason they are mouth brooders
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/llblizzardll/detail?.dir=9b77&.dnm=f438.jpg&.src=ph

well they are in a 20 G so i def. dont want more but i am excited and am planning to give them away.When will they be free-swimming?

About 3 weeks or so and they will be spat out,I have never stripped my zebras believe me when they are spat out they make a beeline for the nearest cover and more than enough will survive and i have a few other mbuna in my tank .

Gibson SG you know you want one!!

ok thanks krige.also are females bigger than males?i always thought the males were bigger but if they are in fact breeding,which they in no doubt are b/c of all that displaying,then my female is bigger than my male.

Yes in general males are bigger, but whose to say a young adult in a tank is not going to get a look in if he is the only male.

Gibson SG you know you want one!!