Is my Cichlid ready to breed?

[KimandRob]

Hey we're kind of new with the Cichlids and we have one acting alittle strange. He (though he could be a she) is the biggest and is aggresive. That we aren't shocked aout but today he started digging out a hole under one of the rocks. He's been at it all day. And if you look close at him him "thingy" seems to be swollen. Is our little Cichlid going to be a mommy?

 

[Managuense]

by "thingy" do you mean a little tube-like object sticking out from between his pectoral and anal fin?

do you have any pics?

most cichlids will dig as a natural behavior, even if they are not planning on breeding.
M

 

[KimandRob]

Yes the "thingy" is between the anal and pectoral fins, but it isn't so much of a protrusion as it is swollen looking. Kind of like after dogs mate the femal is a bit swollen in that area.

The digging just seemed odd because it was out of chaacter, out of the ordinary for the fish

 

[Cichlid-Man]

What kind of Cichlid is it?

I know my convict cichlids dig Breeding pits right before they breed. After the fry hatch the parents move them into these pits to keep watch over them.

Its really a toss up on the tubes.....if they are kinda sticking down yes this means the fish is ready to breed. But not sure of the sex of the fish.

Got any pics?