Main Ref. | Seehausen, O., E. Lippitsch, N. Bouton and H. Zwennes, 1998 |
Mode | |
Fertilization | |
Mating type | |
Spawning frequency | |
Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
Batch spawner | Ref. |
Reproductive guild |
bearers external brooders |
Parental Care | |
Description of life cycle and mating behavior | A polygynous female mouth brooder with maternal parental care. Males seem to be territorial and sometimes chase other fishes. Brooding females have been observed in very shallow water under roots of floating reed. In the aquarium, females release their fry after about 21 days but continue to keep them in the mouth in situations of danger and at night, for up to another 17 days. Size at 50% maturity not precisely known, but above 12.3 cm SL at the Makobe Island (Lake Victoria, Tanzania). |
Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |