GRAPHIC IMAGES - VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED!!!

[notho2000]

A breeding pair of Heros severus (F0s, delayed 'mouthbrooders') have been laying eggs regularly (every couple of weeks) on the vertical end glass of their 90g tank. They share the tank with a number of other SA cichlids (male 'Rotkeil, male Uaru, a number of Mesonauta insignis, and four wild Geophagus brachybrachus, plus some other odds and ends). They are good parents having successfully gotten to the point of carrying fry a few times. But as often happens in the real world, the eggs get eaten, if not by the parents, then by the others that love to visit the "fresh egg buffet" and have a feast. I happened to be in front of the tank when this feeding frenzy took place and I shot a video of the scene. It shows the poor desperate parents (showing their banded stress pattern) being shoved out of the way by highly motivated (ie. hungry) tankmates. If you hate seeing the cheetah bring down the baby Wildebeast on National Geographic, then this video may not be for you. WARNING- GRAPHIC IMAGES MAY OFFEND SOME VIEWERS, VIEWER DISCRETION AND PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS ADVISED. Well lol, it's not that gruesome - - just a little sad the way nature plays the scene out. It happens in natural settings as well. A number of years ago, I was snorkeling in a Mexican lake (Bacalar) observing a pair of Thorichthys guarding their fry. Out of nowhere a school of Astyanax mexicanus attacked the spawn and within 10s the fry were gone.
-Jim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... ZZOXCN6EMM

[Piotr Koba]

Is indeed sad thing to see, but what I can find a little funny is that it all happens in slow motion. I've seen an attack of Crenicichla regani on P. scalare nest (somewhere on the yt as well), and it was waaay faster. Kind of a Blitzkrieg compared to that, so to speak.

BTW, I assume you've raised some fry of those beautiful fish? It would be a real pity to lose all of them.

[notho2000]

Hi Piotr,
Yes, it's interesting how differently it can happen. I had just turned the lights on and I think it took a while for the fish to realize there was a spawn there. It's as if they discovered it one by one, gradually following the cues of the early "attackers". BTW, I have raised a previous spawn up, so I have plenty to go on with. And they will most likely be spawning fairly soon again. Thanks for your input.
-Jim

[smitty]

Eat and be eaten has no boundries. It is a process of nature that has always fascinated me.