This picture is of an African Cichlid. There are many different types of cichlids. Some of them are: Malawi, African, Jack Dempsey, and Parrot cichlids.
The cichlid fish, a native to the crater lakes of Nicaragua, look after their young by protecting them from predators. However, studies have shown that the male fish have a tendency to abandon their female mates, leaving them to care for their young alone. Professors from Finland, Australia, and Germany have spent time observing the behaviors of this species. Dr. Wong from Monash University stated that what urged the males to desert their mates was the availability of chances for additional mating. Research has shown that when the male cichlid deserts the female, the female is no longer able to sufficiently care for her young.
1. What are some other possible reasons why the male cichlid fish would leave the female?
2. What, if anything, could be done to the male fish from abandoning the females, OR, what could be done to help the females survive on their own?
3. Do you think the female cichlids will be able to adapt to not having a father figure by their side to help raise their young? Why or why not?
I find this article suprising and appauling, I just can't believe that a father would abandon his mate and children to fend for themselves. I know that I, that is, if I were a fish, would never abandon my mate and children.
ReplyDelete1. One reason could be just because it doesn't feel like dealing with them all the time, and taking care of the clidren.
2. I don't think us as humans can do anything about the males, but for the females we could possibly find and take care of the babys in tanks.
3. I think it may take a long time, but I believe that the species will eventually adapt to not having the males by their side to help raise their young.
It's really a shame that the male would do that to his children and mate. I find it interesting though that fish and humans have this in common. In some situations a man will also leave his wife or girlfriend when they become pregnant.
ReplyDelete1. Another reason why the male might not want to stay around is because they don't feel like dealing with the responsibilities of children and don't want to spend their lives with the same mate
2. Scientist could try and put only one male and one female in a tank at a time so the male has to stay with the female and children instead of going to other female fish
3. I hope that they do but it really does depend on the circumstances. The males might have something that the children need survival or the female might not be able supply enough food for all the children.
This is shocking, I cannot believe the father of a family would do such a thing. If you depended on a single person and they just left one day, you would be devastated. Nonetheless, this does happen in human families, and it's captivating that humans and this fish species have that in common.
ReplyDelete1) Another possible reason a male cichlid could leave his family is because he had a previous "marriage" with another fish, and wants to go back to that family.