The study of monogamy in convict cichlids and what sets them apart from other fish is crucial for understanding why their mating behaviors differ, as these behaviors impact their survival. Despite the shared DNA and brain structure among most fish, convict cichlids exhibit uniquely distinct social behaviors. To ascertain why this is the case, a series of experiments were conducted to identify and compare the FGF gene expression in convict cichlid developmental stages to that of the zebrafish. The FGF morphogens FGF8b and FGF receptor 2 were chosen based on literature review, and the resulting gene expression patterns varied across embryonic stages, indicating a possible decrease in FGFr2 and an increase in FGF8b in convict cichlids compared to zebrafish.