Breeding The Chessboard Cichlid?

[The-Wolf]

Here are my latest additions, Chessboard cichlid Dicrossus filamentosus.

They are currently in a 8 gal tank and are the only occupants.
I plan on trying to breed them; so any tips, hints etc would be appreciated.

I purchased 5 (2 males and 3 females) hopefully this will give good results

 

[Dwarfs]

I've heard of them as checkerboards, I guess its all the same though

I haven't bred them (But my father lucky62 keeps them) but I think that a slightly raised temperature, fresh, clean water, and some good feeding (Live foods) will enduce spawning

 

[The-Wolf]

I've heard of them as checkerboards, I guess its all the same though

see this is why I dislike common names and use the scientific name wherever possible.

good feeding (Live foods) will enduce spawning

that's a good tip

 

[a.d.wood]

Hi Wolf,

Here's my experience:

Started with 6 juveniles, eventually selected 1 pair and put them into 1 of my breeding tanks (18"L x 18"W x 15"T). Tank decorated with silica sand, bog wood, 2 amazon sword plants (in clay pots) and floating amazon frogbit. The only other inhabitants are 2 whiptail cats (I have them in with all of my spawning Apisto's, they have never shown any interest in any of the fry).

Standard feeding regime for adult dwarves, fresh baby brine shrimp in the morning with an evening feed of frozen food (cycling through bloodworm, daphnia, artemia, white worm, black worm, mysis)

All of my water is 100% RO filtered through Irish moss peat, pH ~5.6, GH ~1, KH 0. Thanks to the planting NO3 etc not detectable. Tank temperature is maintained at 26 degrees C. Weekly 10% water change with water warmed up to ~20 degrees C (I have a 200L water drum in the fish house, this is not heated but left circulating for at least 24 hours to equilibrate to the ambient temperature of the fish house).

I would say that the key for these guy's is water quality, if you can match my stats then you should be in luck.

I had heard that they spawn in pits that they dig in the sand, however this female spawned on the topside of an amazon sword leaf. The female moved the eggs from 1 leaf to another about once per day over 4 to 5 days (she only used 2 leaves). Eggs become wigglers at about 3 days and free swimming at about 7 days.

Once we had free swimming fry, continue with the baby brine shrimp but also supplement with frozen cyclops (a small portion of the other frozen foods is still added for the parents).

It appears the female is solely responsible for the fry raising, the males job is to defend the territory.

And just to show these guys off!! (they're hatched mid September and now about 15mm SL)

Regards

Andrew

 

[The-Wolf]

Wow
thanks for that great post
That certainly gives me something to aim for.

 

[lucky62]

nice thread , Wolf

Great post , a.d. , nice work with the fish , keep showing them off



I have a male and 2 females in a community tank for now , would like try to have them breed for me , but not just yet , ........great information , thanks for sharing , a.d.