Interesting Observation on my Hongsoi

[kray]

My hongsoi spawned 2 weeks ago. I noticed that the female hongsoi sometimes "gobble up" the babies during feeding time by mistake. She would "chew" on them for a while and then split them out without causing any harm to the babies. She must have the ability to use her mouth to differentiate real food from her offsprings. I suppose this is a common observation for all apisto breeders?

Would also like to enquire how long should I keep the babies with the mother, before the mother really turn nasty on them. Thanks.

 

[mummymonkey]

My hongsoi spawned 2 weeks ago. I noticed that the female hongsoi sometimes "gobble up" the babies during feeding time by mistake. She would "chew" on them for a while and then split them out without causing any harm to the babies. She must have the ability to use her mouth to differentiate real food from her offsprings. I suppose this is a common observation for all apisto breeders?

Would also like to enquire how long should I keep the babies with the mother, before the mother really turn nasty on them. Thanks.

I've a brood of hongsloi on the go at the moment and the female is still with the fry at 6 weeks though she doesn't look after them anymore.
All the cichlids I've bred have moved the fry around by mouth.

 

[Mike Wise]

What Kray describes is common for apistos. The female is not eating food, but is thought to be cleaning the fry for some reason.