firemouth laying eggs? help with questions please

[grannylvsfish]

Ok, I have a female firemouth, ( well I think she is ) any ways I noticed the fish movie gravel, and eating or clean a pot that has algea on it. She has been moving gravel, and there is a think haing from her vent. is that to lay eggs, or what? here is a pic of the vent click on it to make the pic big.
Wil she lay eggs with no male? do I need to go get her a male now?

[grannylvsfish]

I called local fish dealer, they do not have any firemouths her size, just babies :eek; any ide on how to find a big male fire mouth?

[grannylvsfish]

gee no one answering questions today?

[mee-mee]

Firemouth Cichlids are egglayers so they don't really become "pregnant". They do become full of eggs though. If the female gets a round belly and it doesn't change much when she hasn't eaten for several hours, she probably is full of eggs. If you have a male in with her they could spawn but if no male is around, she will just re-absorb the eggs into her body after a time.

If there is no male, a female fish could lay eggs but without a male to fertilize them they will not hatch...
I read a bunch of websites about females moving around gravel...It is a sign they are making a crater to lay their eggs...If you don't want to take on the task of raising fry, don't get a male and the eggs won't hatch..They will be layed but not hatched..Since female firemouths are not mouthbrooders and are egglayers...it is your choice...

[mee-mee]

Sorry it took me soooo long I had to make sure the egg part was right...about if she is ready to spawn or not and looks like she just might be ready to spawn....and the moving of gravel part I had to be sure the answer was correct also....:).......

here is a link of male and female firemouths...
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/firemouth.htm
males have the red belly and throat and females have pinkish coloring on the belly and throat...does yours have red??

I also saw a thing that if a female cichlid doesn't eat for a couple of hours she is ready to lay eggs...

[grannylvsfish]

Cichlids are egglayers so they don't really become "pregnant". They do become full of eggs though. If the female gets a round belly and it doesn't change much when she hasn't eaten for several hours, she probably is full of eggs. If you have a male in with her they could spawn but if no male is around, she will just re-absorb the eggs into her body after a time.

If there is no male, a female fish could lay eggs but without a male to fertilize them they will not hatch...
I read a bunch of websites about females moving around gravel...It is a sign they are making a crater to lay their eggs...If you don't want to take on the task of raising fry, don't get a male and the eggs won't hatch..They will be layed but not hatched..Since female firemouths are not mouthbrooders and are egglayers...it is your choice...

thank you, did you look at the picture and see the vent? She is moving stuff like crazy and moving pots, I am sad to say I called every local and out of town buisness with in a 100 mile radius, no one has males :( I would have lover for her to have one, but will get one to grow out :)
oh and she has made a crater, a big crater :)

[grannylvsfish]

Sorry it took me soooo long I had to make sure the egg part was right...about if she is ready to spawn or not and looks like she just might be ready to spawn....and the moving of gravel part I had to be sure the answer was correct also....:)...and she definitely is a female....

here is a link of male and female firemouths...
http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/firemouth.htm

I also saw a thing that if a female cichlid doesn't eat for a couple of hours she is ready to lay eggs...

thank you so much!!! I was waiting for that answer. I waited for a few hours :lol: HAve a wonderful night and again thanks ! I am going to get a few babies in a few days and grow them out. :)

[mee-mee]

No Problem Hakunamakarla...
They are definitely BEAUTIFUL cichlids and good luck at becoming a new grandmama again ....:dance2:..
I always use Google.com....just type in any question and a bundle of websites pop up...that is how I do my research.....and how about a MOM and POP fish store....but the bigger the fish the more expensive it gets...I would gladly travel 100 miles for my female cichlid anytime...just to have babies....WWWEEEEEEEEE...and make sure you have a back up tank for the ma and pa and the little buggers...the other fish might think the fry are shrimp and gobble they are gone....we lost 2 yellow electric fry because of our other cichlids....But good luck....and go the extra 100 for your baby.....peaceful drive anyway....and if the grandkids are in school go during the day....or take them on a field trip with you and go instead.....

[Rbishop]

..but no male...?

[grannylvsfish]

..but no male...?

No male :( I have been looking for one every where but no luck. I will have to grow several out to find one for her, and she is not eating now, whats up with that? she just hangs near a pot, and chases others away. she will let the food fall around her and not eat :(

[severum mama]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think your angel will be in serious trouble if you have a pair of firemouths in your tank. You still might have problems once the female firemouth gets larger, even if there is no male. Also, I think it's likely that your rams won't last with the firemouth as it approaches adult size. Even if they aren't outright killed (my FM has killed many smaller fish), they stress easily and could die just as a result of the stress.

My firemouth is pretty aggressive, and I know my angel wouldn't stand a chance against him. That is what I am basing my comments on.

[grannylvsfish]

I don't want to rain on your parade, but I think your angel will be in serious trouble if you have a pair of firemouths in your tank. You still might have problems once the female firemouth gets larger, even if there is no male. Also, I think it's likely that your rams won't last with the firemouth as it approaches adult size. Even if they aren't outright killed (my FM has killed many smaller fish), they stress easily and could die just as a result of the stress.

My firemouth is pretty aggressive, and I know my angel wouldn't stand a chance against him. That is what I am basing my comments on.
I have removed one angel today and one ram, there in the new 20 gallon tank until I get moms up and running in August which if 55 gallons.
the other 2 fish the fire mouth does not bother. I am also thinking of removing the pictus from the tank though she does not bother them yet. they are soooo cute, I would hate for them to be dinner. :eek:
the fire mouth is acually not agressive at all, it was the other angel that picked on the one, and the other ram that picked on the other :grinyes:
that fire mouth is pretty gentle and perfers to hid most of the time by her pot.

[severum mama]

that fire mouth is pretty gentle and perfers to hid most of the time by her pot.

I understand, but be aware that this can change as the fish matures. From your avatar pic, I'd guess that your fish still has a bit of growing to do. They become a lot more aggressive and a lot more unpredictable as they reach adult size.

I'm glad you moved your angel and rams out of there. Hopefully, they will be cool until you get that 55.

[grannylvsfish]

I understand, but be aware that this can change as the fish matures. From your avatar pic, I'd guess that your fish still has a bit of growing to do. They become a lot more aggressive and a lot more unpredictable as they reach adult size.

I'm glad you moved your angel and rams out of there. Hopefully, they will be cool until you get that 55.

That is an old pic, she is full grown :) and I think I am just going to put all my fish in moms tank when its up and running and keep the 29 gallon for the firemouth and a mate. is this tank going to be big enough?

[Nolapete]

Just a tip. You don't need a large male. Firmouths will breed at about 1.5", so a small male will do. Just look for one with a really pointy dorsal and you should have a male. The females will sometimes have points, but the overall fin is more squared off instead of elongated like a male's.

She has a full belly of eggs and isn't really interested in food. Cichlids can go for days without eating, so don't worry. She's probably picking up scraps while she's digging too.

[Nolapete]

Also, Firemouths will generally only defend their territory by badgering the other fish away. They aren't overly aggressive to the point of chasing down and destroying other fish. I've had them breed successfully and raise young in community tanks. Unlike my nasty festae which would generally kill anything in the tank in a short time.

[severum mama]

That hasn't been my experience. My firemouth has killed several fish.

[Nolapete]

That hasn't been my experience. My firemouth has killed several fish.

In what size tank? Most likely there wasn't enough floor space for them to claim a space without constant crossover from the other fish.

What type of fish did they kill? I'm not saying it's impossible, but they aren't the type to go on a rampage killing everything in sight. Some fish can't leave well enough alone either. If it was a fish that constantly went into the breeding site, then I can see that happening.