fighting convicts

Question
QUESTION: I have a pair of black convicts they are big and one day they started to fight each other around a flower pot that  i have in the tank. does that means that the female is laying eggs?? and is it normal for them to fight or would they kill each other if i don't get one of them out??
thank you

ANSWER: Hi Rafael,
  It is normal for a male and female to do some courtship fighting before spawning.  If they remain together after the fighting, then spawning is likely to occur.  If they keep fighting, and in particular, if one keeps chasing the other and the other keeps trying to swim away, then that is not a good sign and you need to do something or the one will kill the other.  

-- Ron  
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
  Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you!!
the thing is that there is no chasing around the tank, the both face each other and bite each other none of them are running away. so should I get the male out?
or would that stop?
is been going on for two days

Answer
Hi Rafael,
  As long as they are going at it face to face, everything is perfectly fine.  They may damage each other's lips a bit, but that is all part of courting in convicts.

-- Ron
   rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
   Cichlid Research Home Page <http://cichlidresearch.com>