Julidochromis regani mating

[eitakppurk]

Can anyone describe what mating looks like for these guys? I don't know if mine are mating or dying. They're together in a little rock crevice, and the female is turning upside down and gyrating all up on the rock and the male is swirling around and trying to get up in there. The thing I'm concerned about is that they both have little knobby things coming out of them and I don't know if those are their sex parts or if they both just have a wicked internal parasite. They don't look wormy or anything. My water parameters are good but I had a recent incident with a cyp internal parasite, which I have since treated. I don't know whether to be excited or sad, it's confusing 

[Regalblue]

Could be spawning behavior,  but would need to see it to be sure.

[eitakppurk]

They've been at it for at least a couple hours, and when they're not, she's bullying other fish away and he's staying in the crevice. I want to say spawning, but my pessimist nature is getting in the way.......I have a video that I'll try to upload later.

[Matt1628]

Spawning.  Mine do it every 2-3weeks like clock work. 

[eitakppurk]

My bad, just learned about breeding tubes. Spawning.

[Ron]

I don't know if mine are mating or dying.

Sure seems like two extremes, LOL.

[eitakppurk]

I don't know if mine are mating or dying.

Sure seems like two extremes, LOL.

Hahaha yes...you can imagine the emotional confusion that such a dichotomy would present - one minute I was excited for fry and the next I was sure a parasite was bursting out of my fish.