Strange Behaviour By Male In Spawning Tank

[Joby]

Well was staring into my latest spawn tank tonight. I fed the little ones who hatched on xmas eve with bbs and they were having fun hunting them down. Fed daddy his bloodworms which he was eating with relish. So I carried on and fed everyone else in the fishroom then went back to stare at the little ones just because they are gorgeous

Well, the male suddenly started to move to the middle of the tank and then move his pectoral fins very quickly and then his whole body started to vibrate. The fry started to dart towards daddy as if he was a magnet! He gathered them all up in his mouth and then proceeded to swim up and down one side of the tank for 5 minutes. I thought the little devil had eaten them but no, slowly 2 by 2 he spat them out after every pass down the side of the tank. As usual poor little mites swam out dazed after being in his mouth and then went back to hunting bbs

Was wondering if anyone else has noticed daddy "calling" the fry to him like this?

A photo of daddy aka Warren. Its his first spawn with his sister and my first F2

 

[Durbkat]

Thats really funny I never spawned bettas so can't help you out there.

 

[platyfreek]

-daddy fish- monster! monster!quick quick little ones into the shelter before the shadowy figure
with large eyes gets you!

 

[fishykisses]

that's hilarious - i've never left the pappa in long enough to find out what kind of behaviour he would have with the little mites.

 

[Synirr]

Woah, that's really interesting! I can imagine where that kind of behaviour would come in very handy in the wild.

 

[Joby]

Was really funny to watch actually and I did wonder if he saw me as a scarey monster

He did it again today, but only saw around 5 little ones dash to be scooped up lol but thinking about it, his dad used to do the same pose but I guess I never noticed the fry being attracted to him.