[kookaburra]

Hi I have what up until now I thought was an all male mbuna tank, but my red top hongi, which always seemed kind of fat, now has a sort of bulgy throat with black dots and streaks showing through like eggs. I always asked for males at the fish store, but how much does it matter if one of them is female, and what will happen if it has fry?

 

[ironspider]

Most, if not all, will be eaten when she spit them out. If you have a lot of rocks, a couple may survive. Once that happens, it never really stops. You should probably get her out, let her spit and rehome the kids.

 

[DJRansome]

Definitely let her spit in the tank and with the other adults the fry will get eaten. If you have survivors lift the rocks to let the adults get them. You don't want to rehome hybrids.

The main reason for removing her from the tank is that she will be harassed by all the males wanting to spawn. She is likely to get sick and die if/when that happens.

 

[kookaburra]

Okay if they'll get eaten ill just leave it the way it is. I haven't ever had problems with her being harassed before.
If she has eggs in her mouth does that mean they are already fertilized or does that happen later?
Am I past the point of her getting harassed or is that still to come?

 

[DJRansome]

Fertilizations happens as she picks them up, but she might hold unfertilized eggs for a week or so.

I would expect her to be harassed as long as all the other fish in the tank are males. They will all want to spawn and she is their only option.

Watch for damaged fins, scales or even just lurking under the surface or behind filter intakes and heaters. All sure signs.

 

[ironspider]

This is what a harassed female can look like.

 

[DJRansome]

Or even without injuries...the position is the give-away. Fish do not choose those types of hiding places...they are driven there by fear.

 

[kookaburra]

OK none of those symptoms have occurred yet.
Is it possible for a female to have egg spots because if so it looks like mine does.
What should I do if a have to re-home it and I don't have room for another tank? (which I don't)

 

[DJRansome]

Yes females have egg spots.

When you rehome, you sell to another hobbyist or if you have a good LFS and a long relationship with them, they may buy the occasional fish from you for store credit at wholesale rates.

 

[kookaburra]

Yeah i highly doubt my lfs would do that. Which is a bit sickening since their employee gave me a female in the first place.

 

[DJRansome]

It is not easy to keep cichlids without some way to rehome fish. A really good LFS that specializes in cichlids will work with you. Even if they just take them with nothing in return.

 

[kookaburra]

Well I don't know what happened but it's definitely not holding eggs any more. There doesn't seem to be a problem anymore either.
Thanks!