Description of the reproductive behavior of Symphysodon aequifasciatus (Cichlidae) in captivity

Abstract

The blue discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) is often sold for ornamental purposes. It is a neotropical cichlid from South America, which is native to the rivers of the Amazon basin of Brazil, Peru and Colombia. The purpose of this study was to characterize the reproductive behavior of S. aequifasciatus and identify features that can later be used by breeders to facilitate the handling and reproduction of this species in captivity. The experiment was divided into two stages: the first dealt with partner selection and couple formation to observe the behaviors of territoriality, pursuing, fleeing, biting, stay, protecting and cleaning of the substrate. The second stage documented mating behavior, nesting and parental care, to observe vibration, spawning, permanence with the offspring, aeration of eggs, cleaning of spawning, color change and shift-taking in parental care. The results of the study allowed identifying disputes for and establishment of territory, as well as the selection and cleaning of the substrate for spawning performed by both sexes. The parental care was observed from spawning in the substrate until the care for the larvae. It was found that the reproductive success of this species is closely linked to biparental care observed during the entire reproductive process and early stages of the hatchings. KEYWORDS: Amazonian Fish, Ornamental Fish, Larviculture, Reproduction, Behavior Descrição do comportamento reprodutivo de Symphysodon equifasciatus (Cichlidae) em cativeiro RESUMO Dentre as espécies de ciclídeos neotropicais comercializados para ornamentação, destaca-se o acará-disco (Symphysodon aequifasciatus), que é um ciclídeo neotropical originário da América do Sul, pertencente aos rios da bacia Amazônica do Brasil, Peru e Colômbia. Este estudo caracteriza o comportamento reprodutivo do acará disco (S. aequifasciatus) identificando características que posteriormente possam ser identificadas por criadores e utilizadas para facilitar o manejo e reprodução desta espécie em cativeiro. O experimento foi dividido em duas etapas, a primeira com a escolha de parceiro e formação do casal, e a segunda com acasalamento, desova e cuidado parental. Na primeira etapa foram observados os comportamentos de territorialidade, perseguição, fuga, mordida, permanência, proteção e limpeza do substrato, enquanto que na segunda etapa os comportamentos observados nesta etapa foram: tremor, desova, permanência com a prole, aeração dos ovos, limpeza da desova, mudança de coloração e revezamento do cuidado parental. Como resultado foi possível constatar disputa e estabelecimento de território, bem como a seleção e limpeza do substrato para a desova realizada por ambos os sexos. O cuidado parental foi observado desde a desova no substrato até o cuidado com as larvas e o sucesso reprodutivo desta espécie está intimamente ligado ao cuidado biparental observado por durante todo o processo reprodutivo e estágio inicial dos filhotes.

Reproductive behaviour and the effects of substrate on the reproduction of annual killifish ( Hypsolebias flagellatus )

“…A test of water hyacinth as a natural substrate, compared with acrylic wool (artificial substrate), for the reproduction of lambari Astyanax bimaculatus found higher survival of post-larvae with the natural substrate (water hyacinth) (Rezende et al, 2005). Thus, the importance of substrate for the reproduction of several species is evident, as recorded in the present study, since many species have specific characteristics in their reproductive period, such as male-female courtship (Akian et al, 2017), rituals (Teresa & Gonçalves de Freitas., 2011) and the use of substrate as a barrier to protect the eggs against possible predators, thus increasing offspring survival (Mattos et al, 2016). A reason that acrylic wool was not as efficient as a substrate for H. flagellatus as CP may be the male behaviour of constantly burying itself in the CP substrate, forming a nest for the eggs to be deposited and protected, a behaviour that was not recorded for AW substrate.…”

“…Thus, substrate is an important factor in the reproduction of several species. According to Mendonça (2010), substrate during reproduction may be related to the welfare of breeding Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) and to the aggressive behaviour of males towards females of acará disco ( Symphysodon aequifasciatus ) (Mattos et al, 2016).…”

Early Ontogeny of Cichlids Using Selected Species as Examples

“…Fishing pressure for both consumption and aquarium purposes, combined with habitat destruction and increasing water pollution, has led to a drastic reduction in the natural populations of the studied species [26,28,29]. The lack of countermeasures against the causes of the decline in these species could even lead to their extinction [30,31].…”

Couple formation and spawning between two female Discus Fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus - Cichlidae) in captivity

“…By analyzing the three couples that produced the inviable eggs, we found that they consisted of pairs of females, because we tested them with males later. These female couples displayed parental care with the spawn, performing aeration of the spawn with flipper movements and the removal of the first eggs that became inviable, both common behaviors of male/ female couples in this species (Mattos et al 2016).…”

“…With the change of partners, it was observed that females paired with the new male partners and showed the normal reproductive behavior characteristic of the species and spawned normally. The spawns were viable and after egg-hatching, the couple showed normal parental care for the offspring (Mattos et al 2016).…”