Tomocichla tuba pair with wrigglers

**Cichlid parenting at its finest** The Tomocichla tuba eggs are hatching. Three days have passed since they put down their spawn, and during that time, the routine mainly consisted of the female being close to the eggs , hovering over them like a mother hen sitting on her chicks, while the male is cruising about, chasing away any potential threat. He does come by from time to time to take a closer look, but the female, with a little shove and peck, reminds him to get back out there. But now things have changed. Suddenly the pair has a heightened awareness. The eggs are hatching. Right now, as the wrigglers fall off the rock, she seeks them out, picks them up, and spits them back on top of the rock. I'm thinking this must be driving her bonkers. Here is a video of this amazing event.