The effects of mate separation on pair re-formation in the Texas cichlid fish (Cichlasoma cyanoguttatum ).

This study tested whether mated pairs of Texas cichlid (Cichlasoma cyanoquttatum ) would reform and continue rearing their offspring after being separated for either one, four, or ten days. All pairs successfully re-formed after one day, while only 50% re-formed after 4 days. No pair re-formed after 10 days of separation. In successfully re-formed pairs, the female was always more aggressive than her mate, irrespective of whether the female was the resident or the returning individual. Aggressiveness seemed related to the female's attempt to control the male's parental behavior. For pairs which did not re-form, the resident parent, either the male or female, violently and continously attacked the returned mate.