Jack Dempsey cichlid behavior

Question
I have two Jack Dempseys--to the best of my knowledge a male and a female, Jack & Jill.  I know.  How original.  I've had Jack since he was a baby.  He's about 7" long now.  After quite a search Jill was introduced to the tank.  She was comparable size at the time of intruduction.  They reside in a 50 gal. tank.  They have killed every tankmate they've come across (expected) but have always been 'polite' with each other.  I have three general questions.  First-Both of them dart and ricochet off caves, tunnels, gravel, whatever.  Next, well, they yawn.  It's the most accurate way to describe what they're doing.  Gasping for air?  What does that add up to?  I've inspected their fins, scales, gills--I see no evidence of parasites or fungus.  Third question: they been engaging in this famous liplock.  Is it just aggression or does it proceed breeding?  Their bellies get pretty damn pink when they're at it.  Jill has pushed Jack straight up the tank until his tail was flapping in air.  They've never bred before.  I'm transitioning the tank and decor to a comfortable breeding environment.  I just need to know about the yawning and ricochets.  If my fish are sick i need to know how to treat them!  Please and Thank You--because they're the magic words.

Answer
Hi Leslie,
 They sound like a pair just starting to think about breeding.  

Yawning is perfectly normal -- all fishes do it.  

The lip locking is common to both courting and fighting. Basically, with biparental cichlids like these, the two prospective mates "test" each other to see if each is up to the task of defending offspring.  If one fails the test, the other will chase it away in the wild.   In a tank, if there is no place for the loser to go (places to hide) the results can be very, very bad.   If the test goes well, then suddenly one day they will just stop doing the lip-locking and make a nest and spawn.  It can happen quite quickly.   

The bottom line is that as long as they are fighting face-to-face (even if there is some lip damage and scarring), then things are going as they should.  If you see one constantly chasing the other, then things are NOT okay.

-- Ron
  rcoleman@cichlidresearch.com
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