Breeding Cichilids

[-billabong-]

Hey guys, just wondering if anyone could recommend any cichilids that are easy to breed, look good and not too aggressive. hear Kribs breed easily but they seem too aggressive for my tank. got some rams that lay eggs and thats it. what about keyholes? any ideas?

 

[RadaR]

Do you mean aggressive all the time? Or agressive during breeding because most cichlids are aggro when it comes to breeding.
Keyholes are very peaceful and are quite easy to breed. Males have longer fins and more colour in their fins. A pH of 6.5-7.5 (nearer to 6.5 when breeding). They like soft to moderately hard water. There are some problems however. Getting a pair is quite hard, they are picky when it comes to partners. Also they feel threatened quite easily and eat the eggs so try not to disturb them at all. They spawn on a stone, female can lay up to 400 eggs.

 

[kev_kb]

If you already have a piar of Rams I'd concentrate on finding out why the eggs aren't hatching.

 

[scrappy]

I think Sajica are easy breeders, not too picky in pairing up and quite easily distinguishable between males and females, they lay eggs vertically and they can be kept in with the fry for up to 6 months (although i removed my parents after 3 months). Dont need special foods as the parents will chew up anything fed to them then feed it to the fry in the pit until they become free swimming and can take foods themselves.

They are slightly larger cichlids than Rams though (my LFS has an 8" male, although they are usually a little smaller than that at about 6").

Beware though they fry take up space as they grow, i have a 45gal tank dedicated to my Sajica fry which are just over 1" now and ready for shipping to my LFS (but i know the owner very well). Most LFS wont take any stock until they are around the 2" region with medium sized cichlids.

 

[kubora666]

well i kinda agree, but i have a male sajica about 6" with a big nuchal hump and he attacks everything including a snakehead, firemouths and red devils, hes EVIL but a good father, he interbred with a jade eye cichlid and created some very nice fry that i have just sold, but i still wouldnt recomend these two fish to you because they ARE agressive. if you think kribs might be to much aggro then defo dont go for anything more! something small like apisto's or just keep the rams and try to perfect their breeding, good luck

 

[Griz]

If you already have a piar of Rams I'd concentrate on finding out why the eggs aren't hatching.

I agree completely.

Your sig says you have 4 rams in your current setup, or is this for another tank?