Reproduction
Males begin to build nests in the spring when the
water temperature is around 59 degrees Fahrenheit to 66 degrees
Fahrenheit. He builds a nest form organic debris, algae, and other
materials found in the water. The nests are then attached to vegetation
by a white colored 'cement' that the male secretes. He will then search
for a female that has eggs. After the female enters the
nest, she is
continuously prodded by the male until she deposits the eggs. After the female leaves the nest, she is chased away by the male. The male enters
the nest again and fertilizes the eggs. He then aerates the eggs and
defends them from predators that may come around. Depending on the water temperature,
the eggs hatch within seven to eleven days. After the eggs hatch, the
male stays and guards the nest by retrieving the fry that try leaving.
Once he catches them in his mouth he 'spits' them back into the nest. Once
many fry start escaping at the same time and he is unable to keep up he
will abandon them or eat all of the offspring that he can.
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