Observations on krib behavior

[coldheart]

I've got a pair of Kribs that have definitely paired up and they've made a home in a coconut shell. The female was going in and out, while the male kept watch at the entrance, chasing off any fish that came too close. This was going on for a bit, sometimes he'd take her place when she left, and then she'd come back and he'd take up guard duty again.

Today, though, it seems like they've abandoned the shell - she's gone in a couple of times, but it's not the same behavior as before. He's just swimming around, not really guarding the entrance anymore. Occasionally, he'll still chase off a fish that gets too close, but it's not as aggressive as it was. So, what's going on? Was there something in the shell, like eggs or fry, and something's changed? I haven't moved the shell yet, just in case, but their behavior's definitely shifted.

[coldheart]

Well I'm a father, kind of anyway. The Kribs left the coconut shell and I thought they'd abandoned the idea of breeding, but this morning I noticed the male chasing anything that came near the female. She was hovering by a stone and a plant, and then I saw these tiny brown specks moving around her. Initially, I thought it was just substrate she'd stirred up, but as she moved, they kept moving and the male took over.

I could then see these tiny dots swimming around, I reckon around 20-30, but I'm not entirely sure. I'll have to get something set up for them, but for now, I'll just keep an eye on them.