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Breeding African Cichlids
HOW TO CARE FOR AFRICAN CICHLIDS BREEDING
Once you have established your aquarium of African Cichlids, and decided which species you prefer best, you’ll observe after several months that your acclimated Cichlids are happy, healthy and well adjusted within their new community. In time, you may begin to observe displays of new behaviors that you are unfamiliar with. This may indicate that your Cichlids are breeding. If you witness your Cichlids frequently burrowing along the tanks’ floor, displaying brighter colors, and chasing one another, there is a good chance that they are preparing for mating rituals. This is referred to as the “Preparation Stage”. It is important to know however, that though your Cichlids may be mating, laying eggs, and brooding them, you may not initially see their eggs hatch and produce young, known as “Fry”.
It’s NOT uncommon for Cichlids to consume the eggs they lay. It’s best to be aware of this fact, rather than look forward to the hatching of the Fry, only to be disappointed. This can happen even in optimum conditions. Especially when young fish mate for the first few times.
One of the most fascinating aspects of breeding African Cichlids, is that some species deposit their eggs into hiding places, and others incubate them in their mouths. The latter species are known as mouthbrooders. You’ll know from your research which species you have in your tank.
If you suspect that your Cichlids have bred, it’s best to let nature take it’s course. Excessive fussing such as trying to segregate the females, often leads to them eating their eggs. It’s best to allow your Cichlids to remain in the conditions you’ve created, and let nature takes its course. With patience, comes reward.
It is entirely possible that eventually your Cichlids will spawn with success. It takes approximately 21 days for the eggs to hatch. Up to 35 tiny fry swimming with their mother will be the your sign of success.
You’ll want to ensure that your tank conditions during that time is at its’ best. Take care to not be too invasive, thus upsetting the new parents. Feed them well and hope for the best!
Two of my fish were just sucking face… and i dont know what that behavior implies. does it mean that they were transferring eggs from one fish’s mouth to the other?? I have no idea! HELP!!!
Anna
hi i am new at this my first time i have a 72 gallon tank i have about 10 t0 15 cichlid n them i am not sure which is female and which in not i was told the one with spots onthe anul fin is male ones with out is female but all of them seems too have spots on there tail fine doest that mean the all are mail i have this takn with them for about months and i got no babys as yet what shouls i do why or how can i get them to breed thank u kevin.
My Cichlid looks as if it has small hatchlings inside its mouth as if it is carrying them! What should I do or how do I get it to release them? Thanks
Hello,
I have a female yellow lab with her mouth full of eggs which I think have already hatched.I see movement wthrough her “transparentcy” when she is in the light..My tank is 180 liters and I have seperated her from the others in the same tank using a clear plastic devider.She has about 30 liters to herself.
I have added a small “broken vase” for her to have a place to hide.
She loves it.She is constantly in and out and loves to relax under a near by plant.
I need some advice as to how to take care of her.Simple things such as do I put the male in with her or not? I’m sure of which one it was because I saw the entire mating process….AMAZING!
She is in great form.
If it is not asking to much,please send me a link or give me some quick advice as to how I might enjoy the company of my new family.
Thank you so much for your time,
Michael
will i need to separate the fry and the mother soon or should i leave them together?
I have a Labidochromis Lividus that developed a noticible bulge on its underside between the two posterior fins. I believe it might be eggs but I feel the fish may be too young. It is probably only 2″ long and maybe 6 months old. Is this fish mature enough to breed??? It is the rather light tan or faint brownish color of the females of this species and is housed with 4 other males. This will be my first breeding event since I have started keeping cichlids. Is there anything special I should know? I have been reading a lot of info on this. Thanks for any input you can provide.
chances are you have two males and they are disputing property lines or protecting their females
i have a blood parrot and a smaller african cichlid and they often appear to be kissing!?? What is going on?
I am worried that if my africans begin to breed that either the eggs of the small fry will be sucked into the filters. also is it a good idea 2 have a seperate breeding tank to transfer the fish into when u think they r pairing up. any help will be appreciated. cheers.
My fish is laying eggs, but the other ones are eating them so i put her in a box net, should i have done that or should i let her go? Never done this before.
Thankyou for your help!
Katie
im trying to find a boyfriend for my mature red zebra cichlid unsure how to pic a male ??? pls advise
Is it possible that my african cichlid could mate with different species of fish such as a pearch or bluegil and have fry?(babies)
My african cichlids are “burrowing” large holes in the bottom of my tank. Is this a sign that, yes, they are laying eggs or in the process of laying eggs. I am new with african cichlids and do not yet no any other traits other then there aggresive… please help me!
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFO. ON THE CONVICT CICHLIDS. I STARTED WITH TWO FEMALE AN ONE MALE. THEY’VE BRED AN NOW HAVE TWO OTHER TANKS FULL OF BABY FRY. I’VE SEPARATED THE MALE FROM THE FEMALE TO STOP THE BREEDING. AND WOULD LIKE MORE INFO. ON THE CARE OF THEM, AN HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERANCE BETWEEN THE MALE AN FEMALE AN WHAT AGE YOU CAN STRART TO TELL.THIS IS MY FIRST TIME TO HAVE FISH, AN SEEM TO HAVE DONE SOMTHING RIGHT SO FAR AN WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO BE AS GOOD PROVIDING FOR THE FRY. AN HOW EASY IS TO CROSS BREED THEM WITH JACK DEMSY OR GREEM TERROR,AN HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERANCE IN THESE BREEDS ALSO. THANKS VARY MUCH!!!!
One of my cichlids kept nesting at the bottom of the tank and 2 weeks ago i found one fry in a hole in one of the logs in the tank, 3 days later he was gone (i think he came for food and was eaten). Once again she is making a nest in the same spot as before How do I know if she spawns???
i take the eggs out of the females mouth and hatch them myself.. i find i get a 95% success rate.. if i leave them in the mothers mouth i will have around 25-30% sucess…
I would like to say… how do i breed clavus cichilds i have male and female and male beat the female wats should i do to stop that he has her in the top coner off the tank
hello … this is new to me … i need some kind of little help here . i got about 15 cichlid fishs . what i m see is the one fish is a mother .. she been dig with mouth to spit out of sand to make it as like hole spot .. which she is pretty soon getting have babies fish .. so when she did stop dig today so do u have idea when she gonna start lay eggs? is it safe to leave mother with pregany or lay eggs with another fishs ? what else should i need to know …
I would like to say…I noticed since last night that my african chichlid has been extra aggressive towards the other fishes and anyone getting near the tank. This morning I noticed over 30 eggs on top of a rock that my green terror has not moved away from. My question is what happens now and how do I know who is the mother or if my green terror is the mother. How long should the eggs be on top of the rock?
I just started a new tank a few weeks ago. two of my fish have paired off. they are african cichlids. The females mouth is stuffed with eggs and you can see them when she opens her mouth and her bottom if buldging. i have never worked with cichlids before. but i have 10 other larger cichlids in the tank. The fish all seem to be nice, but they tend to fight every now and then. I know i cant leave this female in her space because she is the smallest female in the tank, and she has not been eatting. Whats the best way to transport her to a new tank? i will keep this tank with all the same levels, by just taking water from the larger tank…. from my 80 gallon to her new 20 gallon. But my question is still is it safe to move her?