How Do Cichlids Mate?
Ooo, Baby Baby Mating in fish is called spawning. The huge family of fish collectively known as “cichlids” are egg layers. Unlike mammals, cichlid fish spawning goes on outside of the body. The male and female do not join together to fertilize eggs. The female deposits the eggs and then the male deposits his sperm over the eggs. Both parents then help take care of the eggs and baby fish (fry) until they grow to be about an inch long and can fend for themselves. Selecting a Mate Considerable time is spent by cichlids in selecting a mate. When the water temperature is just right (this differs by species) and they are healthy, any other cichlid of their species looks like a member of the opposite sex. Some species of cichlids, like Oscars, refuse to spawn with just any other Oscar of the opposite sex. They are choosy fish. We are not entirely sure what makes one fish more attractive as a mate to another cichlid. Spawning behavior involves a lot of chasing, slapping the sides of their bodi
