Are my pygmy cichlids preparing to spawn?

[Clack]

Sitting by the tank with my morning coffee, and my pygmy corys are going wild - more active than I've ever seen. They're darting around, chasing each other - I'm guessing this could be spawning behaviour? My other corys seem completely unfazed, just cruising along as usual, so it's definitely just the pygmies getting excited. Anything else I should keep an eye out for?

[MikeyKid]

One thing to keep an eye out for is if they start positioning themselves in a T shape with one fish across the nose of the other - that's a pretty strong indication of spawning behaviour. My own pygmy corys used to do this a lot, and they'd often leave eggs on plant leaves, which unfortunately the cherry shrimp would quickly devour.

[WildFins]

I'm observing similar spawning behavior with my pygmies, and I've noticed they're positioning themselves in that distinctive T formation, just like you mentioned, MikeyKid. One fish will cross over the nose of the other, and I'm assuming this is a sign of courtship. I'm keeping a close eye on them, but so far, no eggs have been laid that I've spotted - probably because my cherry shrimp are always on the lookout for an easy snack.

[WildFins]

If you're hoping to boost the fry's survival rate, consider adding some Indian almond leaves or other dried leaf litter to the tank. These will not only release tannins as they break down, but also produce infusoria - a valuable food source for the young ones.

[Clack]

View attachment 342084

This is exactly what's been going on in my tank, I'll have to take a closer look later and see if I can spot any eggs. My ADFs might just get to them all, but fingers crossed. I've already got some Indian almond leaves in the tank, but I can definitely add a few more to give the fry a better shot.

[Clack]

What's the typical appearance of the eggs, just so I know what to look out for when I'm checking the tank later?

[WildFins]

Sitting by the tank with my morning coffee, and my pygmy corys are going wild - more active than I've ever seen. They're darting around, chasing each other - I'm guessing this could be spawning behaviour? My other corys seem completely unfazed, just cruising along as usual, so it's definitely just the pygmies getting excited. Anything else I should keep an eye out for?

Honestly, I've never actually had the chance to see them myself, as my other fish usually find them first. Occasionally, a fry manages to make it through, and I'll catch a glimpse of a tiny pygmy swimming around, half the size of the others. It's a rare occurrence, but it happens when an egg is well-hidden from the rest of the tank, and the fry can survive long enough to grow to a size that's no longer a snack for the others.

[Clack]

I'm observing similar spawning behavior with my pygmies, and I've noticed they're positioning themselves in that distinctive T formation, just like you mentioned, MikeyKid. One fish will cross over the nose of the other, and I'm assuming this is a sign of courtship. I'm keeping a close eye on them, but so far, no eggs have been laid that I've spotted - probably because my cherry shrimp are always on the lookout for an easy snack.

Just checked on the tank and still no eggs in sight, but the pygmies are still buzzing around. Maybe it's just a matter of time before they spawn. To be honest, I'm just chuffed they're happy enough to even consider it - I've never bred anything before, so if it happens, that's a bonus, but if not, no biggie.