mattdaddy2
Members
Can anyone help me in some trade secrets in breeding african cichlids? I have tried everything I've heard and read, yet, no success.
Breeding
- Thread starter mattdaddy2
- Start date
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- breeding
AndyNarwhal
Members
I always try to keep 2 males and 5-6 females in a tank. Usually works best for me. I also feed live black worms once or twice a week as this helps females ripen up with eggs.
When I worked on the farm in Florida a brief cold spell would trigger spawning. Dropping the tank temperature 2-3 degrees and then bringing it back up again can trigger spawning if the females are ripe.
Andy
When I worked on the farm in Florida a brief cold spell would trigger spawning. Dropping the tank temperature 2-3 degrees and then bringing it back up again can trigger spawning if the females are ripe.
Andy
dogofwar
CCA Members
Like Andy said (and assuming you're talking about mouthbrooding Malawi cichlids), proper breeding groups make a huge difference.
The biggest trick is water changes: 80% per week isn't too much.
Finally, good food is key. What is appropriate depends on the species. But NLS or Xtreme pellets are good staples for most. Some greens for mbuna and meaty foods (like live red wigglers or earthworms) for predatory haps get them in condition.
Why don't you describe your current set-up and go from there?
Matt
The biggest trick is water changes: 80% per week isn't too much.
Finally, good food is key. What is appropriate depends on the species. But NLS or Xtreme pellets are good staples for most. Some greens for mbuna and meaty foods (like live red wigglers or earthworms) for predatory haps get them in condition.
Why don't you describe your current set-up and go from there?
Matt
cmcpart0422
Members
Matt is right. First lets hear about your set up and what fish your trying to breed and people will probably be able to get more specific. But like Matt said good food, water, and breeding groups are a good place to start.
Hawkman2000
Members
Hang a mirror in the side of the tank where they can see themselves. They will think it is another fish and fight themselves. The female will become aroused, and then turn on the Marvin Gaye.
Remove the mirror for random periods of time so they can be alone.
Remove the mirror for random periods of time so they can be alone.
Tony
Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
Never needed a mirror to breed my Africans before. 
Rasta Fish
CCA Members
I never have problems breeding them before, if have a male heavy tank try to get females that match the dominant male and you can breed then in any tank.
Be careful of cross breeding.
Clean water and some high protein food will do the trick
Be careful of cross breeding.
Clean water and some high protein food will do the trick
mattdaddy2
Members
Well I have a 28gal jbj nano will mainly shelldwellers with a few pieces of coral rock for ph balance lava rock some slate and plenty of turbo snail and clam shells that I snagged from my saltwater tank. My substrate is crushed coral. (Not the florida crushed coral brand) temp stays around 78 they are fed with spectrum pellets hikari pellets super veggie flakes by omega one and every now and again frozen krill. Ph sits around 7.8
I have a fifty gal as well with labs of all colors, zebras, brichardi, borleis, auratus, blue dolphins, demasonis. With the same water specs and food. H2o changes every other week 3gal on the 28 and 5gal on the 50
I have a fifty gal as well with labs of all colors, zebras, brichardi, borleis, auratus, blue dolphins, demasonis. With the same water specs and food. H2o changes every other week 3gal on the 28 and 5gal on the 50
dogofwar
CCA Members
I'd seriously up the water changes...especially on the 50g. Try 30g or so per week for a couple of months.
Also, mixing angry mbuna like auratus and demasoni with mellowish haps and mbuna like Cyrt. moori and labs isn't gonna work too well. And I can't imagine that the brichardi would have much of a chance to settle down either...
Matt
Also, mixing angry mbuna like auratus and demasoni with mellowish haps and mbuna like Cyrt. moori and labs isn't gonna work too well. And I can't imagine that the brichardi would have much of a chance to settle down either...
Matt
verbal
CCA Members
I would focus on a max of 3 species if you want breeding in your 50. I would pick the labs and borelyi and maybe one other species. If you end up with extra males, you can easily find takers who want them for display tanks.
AndyNarwhal
Members
It sounds like you have just too much diversity to get really good breeding going on. Breeding works best when there is only one or possibly 2 species per aquarium. You reduce the risk of hybridization and you reduce the stress on the fish from species that are more aggressive or fry predators.
Andy
Andy
mattdaddy2
Members
Wouldn't more frequent and larger water changes cause a algae bloom in my tank?
jonclark96
Past CCA President
I don't think so. You are actually taking nutrients for algae to feed on out of the tank when you are doing water changes. I regularly change between 50 and 80 percent on all my tanks weekly and have never had an algae bloom.
dogofwar
CCA Members
Excess nitrates and other organics in your water (from not doing enough water changes) + light are a likely cause of algae blooms.
Changing more water would reduce these....
Matt
Changing more water would reduce these....
Matt
Tony
Alligator Snapping Turtle/Past Pres
+1. Think that's pretty standard in the club.
