Herotilapia Multispinosa

[LisaLQ]

I've got three rainbow cichlids, one male in my hubby's community tank, and a male/female pair in my 180g tank. The pair are courting - but never get round to actually doing it (the male actually brisghtens up and courts the female for hours, then when she changes colour and starts wiggling for him - he chases her away - doh!). Hubby said I should chuck in our other male (being sociable cichlids unlike many) but I was wondering....

At the moment, the tank's a bit of a mish mash - there's a breeding (but sterile) pair of parrots, a breeding pair of angels, and some boesmanni in there with them. We are planning a new tank - and as soon as we find one, we'll be moving the parrots out, putting the boesmanni in the new tank with them, and rehoming the angel pair. This is what I'll have left in my 180g:

2 x rainbow cichlids
1 x common plec
1 x rusty plec
1 x royal plec
2 x bristlenoses
5 x brochis splendens

Should I stick with the pair, should I throw in the extra male, or do as some other folks do and keep a small group?

Especially seeking the attention of those who have experience in this - I would like them to spawn as it means they're happy (although the plecs will take care of any eggs, thats not a problem), so whatever suggestions you can give would be great.

Also - can anyone think of some nice looking and very peaceful tetras or barbs that will go with the whole bronze/orange/green theme?

 

[rixy]

i'd get some more lisa.a group of 5/6 would be nice and it would greatly increase your chance of a breeding pair.

 

[vancouver]

I've got 2 males with a female.. I thought they might fight but they all get along great.. tank is 55g

 

[LisaLQ]

So shall I just wang Zippy in for now, then once the other fish are out, look into getting another 2 or 3? Or shall I leave Zippy in the other tank til then too? Zippy being my spare male

 

[jimw13uk]

I have just a pair in my tank and they did exactly what you say yours are doing for about 3 weeks and then the other night she started laying eggs all over the tank - on every surface she could find and the male started to fertilise them - So it depends on how long you've had them in their as a pair.

Its taken mine 3 weeks to start breeding - I bought them from a LFS 3 weeks ago and he just scooped these 2 out for me so i have been lucky I suppose.

Stick with them for a while

 

[LisaLQ]

All three are from the same batch - I got my spare male first - he was about an inch and a half then, my sister got the other ones - then when she downsized a few months ago (November I think) I took them on, but they were still juvies. I think they're about 10 months old now....at a very rough guess. I got my original one in July/August last year, so that gives a rough idea how long the other two have been paired off. I think if they were going to spawn, they would have by now. It's not as if there's problems with the tank - my angels and my parrots in there are spawning regularly.

 

[vancouver]

2 of mine spawned a couple times right after I got them, but haven't spawned once since. The male beat the snot out of the female so I had to move her. Now I keep all 3 together and they get along very well. They all hang out together all the time. I'd definitely try it.. the extra male might even spawn with the female.. who knows!

 

[jayjay]

My group of 5 (2m, 3f) breed continuously now, as soon as eggs are taken off the filter (their favourite egg laying spot) they are laid again within a matter of hours.

They get on fine and partners keep changing so each time it's a different pair.

 

[LisaLQ]

Excellent I shall have to look into getting another couple then, I could probably fit them in now but I want to wait til I've got the new tank for the parrots, because then it doesn't matter if I can only get hold of smaller ones. Mind you, I have 2" boesmannis in there with no worries, but even so - I dont want to risk losing any.

Do you think it'd be ok to move Zippy over now or would it be better to wait til I can get some more? I just worry about there only being one female - had Zippy been a girl I probably wouldn't think twice. It's just he's being a pest in my hubby's tank, as the angels have laid again, and he doesn't get the hint that when he sneaks over to try and get the eggs, he will get the crap kicked out of him - and he's going to end up hurt lol.

Should I risk it or wait on til I can get some more first?

And thanks for the help folks, especially JayJay (I did originally type "JayJay's advice needed" in my first post but didn't want to look like I was picking a favourite so deleted it LOL)

 

[jayjay]

I don't mind being classed as a favourite

But you know you want to take my 5 adults, pretty please?

Zippy probably wouldn't get hurt, they are tough little things and it'll learn, but yeah move it now, your tank is large enough for them to escape each other. Have a look around, adult rainbow local to me aren't that much and I see them fairly regularly but take mine How big are the parrots? I wouldn't mind adding small fish with parrots as they don't have the biggest of mouths and as I've said the large tank provides small fish with a chance to escape.

 

[LisaLQ]

I don't mind being classed as a favourite

But you know you want to take my 5 adults, pretty please?

Zippy probably wouldn't get hurt, they are tough little things and it'll learn, but yeah move it now, your tank is large enough for them to escape each other. Have a look around, adult rainbow local to me aren't that much and I see them fairly regularly but take mine How big are the parrots? I wouldn't mind adding small fish with parrots as they don't have the biggest of mouths and as I've said the large tank provides small fish with a chance to escape.

Dont tempt me, if I were any closer I'd be taking you up on that That's the main downer about not being a driver - s*d the easier school trips and shopping trips I could do if I had a car, I just want to be able to get fish

The parrots are about 6" and 8" roughly. We do have 2" boesmannis in there with them, and medium brochis (well to me they're large but they have some growing to do still), and the worst that's happened is a torn fin or two when the parrots are spawning - and even that wasn't witnessed. The angels are worse, and they're smaller (although Goldie is a beast compared to the other angels now, I think it's all the sex he's having lol).

I'll move Zippy over at the next water change, got to add some more bogwood so it'll be a bit like re-arranging too, so that'll no doubt help I bet the female will think it's Christmas, two fellas to flirt with

Thanks for all the help - it's much appreciated!