Tips To Get Ellioti To Spawn

[SouthernCross]

Just what the title says really...
 
I've got six Elliotis, three definite males, two I'm pretty sure are females and one I'm not too sure about yet.
 
They are in a 4 x 2 x 2 with other tankmates. I have lots of rocks and wood in there and a couple of terracotta pots. One thing I'm planning to do is add more plants, hardy plants like anubias.
 
I'm really hoping to get a pair out of the group and breed some (everyone who comes over is fascinated by them and their beauty and would really like some if I can get them to breed - they are very rare where I live).
 
They have grown well and are a decent size - I had read they can spawn when quite small so I'm a bit surprised I haven't seen any action yet. The two biggest males flare at each other occasionally but nothing much ever comes of it. I have had other cichlids spawn before so I know what it looks like when they are trying to 'impress' each other and I haven't seen any of that behaviour
 
I feed NLS flakes and pellets, shrimp pellets and algae wafers for my bottom feeders and they get frozen brine shrimp and bloodworms once a week.
 
Any tips???
 
 

 

[star4]

The males will be spending more time seeing who is best than picking a mate. If you have a spare tank, remove the two smaller males and leave a single male with the remaining females, once he pairs with one remove the others (you can put them in with the other males). Mine use to spawn directly into a dug out pit, they are excellent parents so you do not need to worry too much about removing the fry for 3-4 weeks. When I had multiple elliotti in one tank they didnt spawn, but a pair on their own did.
 
I hope this helps good luck.

 

[SouthernCross]

Here Inwas thinking I was doing the right thing getting a group and letting them choose their own pair? I see what you are saying with the multiple males though. Once a pair has formed, would it be detrimental to return the other fish to the main tank?

 

[star4]

Yes getting a group is the right thing.  I found when I bred Elliots if there was two evenly matched males in the tank the females wouldnt pick a mate, why I do not know. Once the pair has bonded and spawned you might be able to return the others to the tank, but this would have to be trial and error, it might work it might not. My Elliotti pair spawned and raised fry in a community tank with pictus cats, severum and a young oscar so they are pretty good at protecting their fry.
 
Do you feed much frozen foods, ie brine shrimp, bloodworm, krill etc. I found feeding more "meaty" foods can sometimes help. Also my Ellioti always spawned after a large water change (even though I do weekly water changes on the same day) when ready they would always spawn the day after.

 

[SouthernCross]

At the moment I give frozen brine shrimp and bloodworm once a week on the weekend. Maybe twice a week instead?

 

[star4]

It wouldnt harm to up it for 2-3 weeks see if you get any finally pair, Realistically they should spawn (what size tank BTW),  with others in the tank. Maybe, as with the case I had with some youngsters, the two most dominant males were just too evenly matched.

 

[SouthernCross]

It's a 4x2x2...

 

[star4]

Sorry, you did say in your earlier post. That is the same size I bred my Elliotti in with other fish. Try the extra frozen foods, see what happens. If no joy try removing one of the dominant males. Hope this helps

 

[SouthernCross]

Would moving fish that are more dominant than the Elliott's help also? E.g my blue acaras and female convict? She is very sassy to say the least.

 

[star4]

The other fish shouldnt be a problem (cant say for sure on the convict as its female you might be ok, males can to try and join in with spawning) My Elliotti raised fry with severums, juvi oscar, pictus cats

 

[SouthernCross]

The acaras and the convict always seem he'll bent on disrupting my rainbow cichlids whenever they try and spawn. I've given lots of potential locations but they all seem to like the one spot. I was considering moving the convict and acaras into a spare 3 footer anyway, but I can't do that until December, so I might just see how they get on until then.

 

[star4]

hmmm then yes it might be an idea to move the acara and convict. Do the rainbows actually manage to spawn?

 

[SouthernCross]

Got as far as eggs but never wrigglers. I think they get stressed and eat them. They are extremely peaceful rainbows though, even when they are trying to spawn. Other fish bother them, not the other way around.
Oh I noticed today my most dominant male has his male bits out - no tubes on the ?females yet though. Is that a good sign? There seems to be an increase in flaring by the males

 

[DrRob]

Probably is a good sign. Have you got any flat rocks for them to spawn on? They're, by preference, spawners on flat surfaces (although mine insisted on spawning on a bit of wood that curved to make a natural cave wall type affair).

 

[star4]

It sounds promising. With your terracotta pots. are they big enough for the elliotti to get inside? they may choose those if they are on their side. They are not actual cave spawners, but I found mine liked to spawn on something flat (or they would dig out a pit and spawn on the bottom class) but in a corner of the tank.