| Main Ref. | Seehausen, O., E. Lippitsch, N. Bouton and H. Zwennes, 1998 |
| Mode | dioecism |
| Fertilization | |
| Mating type | |
| Spawning frequency | No obvious seasonal peak |
| Spawning aggregation | Ref. |
| Batch spawner | Ref. |
| Reproductive guild |
bearers external brooders |
| Parental Care | |
| Description of life cycle and mating behavior | A polygynous female mouthbrooder with maternal parental care. Males defend territories of usually less than a square meter surface around a larger crevice. During courtship and male-male interactions they leave the crevice, but usually do not move far away from it. Females are led to the crevice, where the spawning takes place. Males are vigorously defending the territories against conspecific males. Brooding females guard small territories around a small cave at variable water depths. 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 21 days. |
| Search for more references on reproduction | Scirus |