Breeding Nic's

[Mopar32985]

O k i have a pair of Hypsophrys nicaraguensi (Macaw Cichlid). Today i am getting a 40 gallon breeder tank. I was woundering if you guys know if it is difficult to breed these. The are in a 75 gallon now and they stick together all the time. They have already moved around the substraight to make a cave. I was thinking of using sand is this a good idea for the 40 if noe please give me some ideas. Thanks for any help.

 

[ox5477]

O k i have a pair of Hypsophrys nicaraguensi (Macaw Cichlid). Today i am getting a 40 gallon breeder tank. I was woundering if you guys know if it is difficult to breed these. The are in a 75 gallon now and they stick together all the time. They have already moved around the substraight to make a cave. I was thinking of using sand is this a good idea for the 40 if noe please give me some ideas. Thanks for any help.

If they follow eachother all the time and have already made a cave, then they sound like they are pairing off. The cave is the big clue, usually they will do this with the obv reason on their mind, play it out and see what happens. Maybe if you do a major water change, say 50%, this may encourage the two to spawn as it might in nature when new waters are washed in after a big storm.

P.S. If they are already building the cave, then I wouldn't change anything right now, (except obv the water) as they seem to have their territory set and have a place that they consider a good place for eggs.

 

[Mopar32985]

The problem isa that they are in with a bunch of other fish and i dont want them to eat the babies

 

[Mopar32985]

Ok well they are in their new home used water from the 75 to get it ready to go faster. Well fish a re looking good but for some reason the male starting chasing the female around. Is mthis a sign of them wanting to breed or is he just being a pain. Any sugg. would be great thanks.

 

[ox5477]

Ok well they are in their new home used water from the 75 to get it ready to go faster.

Did you put mature filter media in the tank too or just water from the old tank because if it is new media then it will still need to cycle and could cause problems in them trying to breed if ammonia and nitrite spikes are going on. I'm not an expert but from my experience, this may stop them from trying to breed if these chemicals are present as it may hurt their fry when hatched.

Well fish a re looking good but for some reason the male starting chasing the female around. Is mthis a sign of them wanting to breed or is he just being a pain. Any sugg. would be great thanks.

Well he might just be trying to court her or he could be getting annoyed and trying to chase her away. Just sayin that he is chasing her isn't really descriptive enough. If he is keeping her in a corner and charging at her whenever he is getting near, then maybe he is getting annoyed and the pair might not spawn. Of course, if you moved them to a new tank he might just be trying to reassurt his dominance.

If he is just following he around sort of just rubbing on her and nipping a little at her almost playfully then he is trying to get her to lay eggs so they can spawn.

 

[Mopar32985]

thanks man you have been some help

 

[ox5477]

thanks man you have been some help

No prob bud, thats what this forum is here for