More work will soon be done on this animal. We originally collected about 15 specimens of the green labridens. The tank utilized sponge filters and lots of rockwork. After just a month or so in captivity, one pair began the courtship ritual. Surprisingly, this pair was quite small at only about three inches.
Adults reach a length of at least eight inches.
A territory is staked out and both parents defend this area. Eventually, after three weeks, the pair laid about 250 eggs on the side of a rock in the protected nest area. Head jerking and fin twitching by both parents is common during the process of nurturing the young. The female uses her chest to cause a cloud of detritus that the fry uses for feeding. Photo by Juan Miguel Artigas Azas .