My Cichlids Just Had Babies!

[ElectricY]

It's been 7 months since I bought my red zebras and yellow labs when they were about 1". My situation now is that the little guys have had babies and I did not notice this until my little brother pointed it out. The babies do look like red zebras, but aside from that I can only find 3 that are hiding in little crevices. As of right now my fish look safe so is it a good idea to move them anytime soon? I also think that the babies may be hybrids because I have a yellow lab that may be holding. Not sure though because it usually eats so much that it can swallow it's food. So what should I do with the babies? I may move them and the holding lab to a 10 gal. Please offer advice thanks!

 

[glolite]

You've done well to get your fish breeding so quickly

I suspect they are baby zebras as fish normally only hybridise if they have no mate of their own species. Probably best to leave the babies where they are for now. It is normal for only a few to survive, mother nature at work.

How big is your main tank?

 

[oscars r ace]

i leave the babys in my tank and they live in the rocks, you will see more the bigger they get because they come out more.

 

[ElectricY]

You've done well to get your fish breeding so quickly

I suspect they are baby zebras as fish normally only hybridise if they have no mate of their own species. Probably best to leave the babies where they are for now. It is normal for only a few to survive, mother nature at work.

How big is your main tank?

It's 50 gallons and I have 2 red zebras, male and female. Also have 3 yellow labs one male two females. My problem is that the babies will eventually outgrow their hiding spot, but even so they will still be too small to not get eaten. I also think that the mother may be this female yellow lab that appears to be holding and is getting harassed by some of her tankmates. Should I move her?

 

[dthoffsett]

I answered in one of your other threads, so I'll just paste the same response here.

Well, you need to decide if you want to keep the babies or leave them in the tank and see if they survive. Since you have L.caeruleus & M.estherae in the same tank, I highly recommend you not sell or give them away as those species are notorious for producing hybrids. If you want to raise and keep them in your own tanks, I say go for it.

Fry can be kept in the 10gal until they are big enough not to be eating (around 1" to 1 1/2"), they can be fed the same food as the adults, just crushed for their little mouths. You can also feed them baby brine shrimp which they will love you for.
Too add, you really should add a few female zebras, mbuna are harem breeders where 1 male will mate with as many females as possible, the usual recommended ratio is 1 male for every 3 females.

If the holding lab is being harassed by her tankmates it may be a good idea to move her to a holding/quarantine tank.