ideal tank temperature for breeding

[nano55]

Could someone tell me what my tank temperature should be for ideal breeding conditions?

[toddnbecka]

It depends on the stocking, but basically temp isn't as critical as you may think. Keeping the tank on the cooler side (~74) won't affect breeding, but will slow down aggression a bit. Keeping the temp too high will actually inhibit breeding IME.

[AfroCichlid]

What are you breeding? I've bred both Malawi and Tanganyikans at 79F. I wouldn't go below 73F for either lake. I'm not sure about Vics, but I would think they would be similar.

[jpappy789]

Regular aquarium temp (around 78-80 degrees) works fine for most africans...

[Pittbull]

yep agreed 78 - 80F should do nicely i have even bred fish in the lower 70's like 74F all was fine..

[reefplayground]

Yup, regular aquarium temp would work best. If you are looking to initiate the mating process, Large and frequent water chances work best as this simulated the monsoon seasonal rains in the wild, the start of their natural mating season.

The same can be done on your fry tanks to speed up their growth rates. A Higher temp in the fry tanks will also speed up the frys metabolism rates, leading to quicker growth.

[nano55]

What are you breeding? I've bred both Malawi and Tanganyikans at 79F. I wouldn't go below 73F for either lake. I'm not sure about Vics, but I would think they would be similar.
I have a pair of auratuses that have never bred and was wondering why. The temperature in that tank is 78 degrees. I used to have zebra fry all the time and haven't had any of them either lately, and they are in the same tank with the auratus. I just wondered if water temperature makes a difference. In my other tank, I turned the temp. up to 80-82, and now my yellow lab and my O.B. peacock are both holding. Maybe it's just a coincidince, I don't know.

[efors]

Maybe it is not a coincidence. IMO, any change in water conditions that is liked by the fishes, can stimulate them to breed.

[AfroCichlid]

Maybe it is not a coincidence. IMO, any change in water conditions that is liked by the fishes, can stimulate them to breed.
Agreee. Sometimes you just have to find what works best for your fish. Sometimes it's a water change, sometimes it's holding off on water changes. Sometimes it's proper diet. Sometimes it's a bump in temp, or a slow decrease followed by a slow increase.
Every Mbuna I ever owned found something to spawn with. I never tried Auratus ( they came with the first African setup I ever had and were amongst the first to be banned from my tanks forever ), but I would look into diet and increased water changes. Maybe bump the temp up a bit, but I've never had to do this.

[rogersb]

Water temp should have little to do with it. Figure the lakes are huge ecosystems with very little change, not dis-similar to the ocean. The surface is between 78-80, but most fish we keep come from greater depths and would be more accustomed to temps in the lower seventies. Raising the temp should not contribute much to breeding specifically, but it should create more aggression and higher metabolism. Any changes should be done slowly and should not contribute to breeding unless going below 70 or above 84. I find these fish will not breed in either extreme.

[johnpeezy]

I run my main Afro tank hot at a whopping 84 degrees The Neo. pulchers, Alunocara, Julidochromis and Haps breed furiously in my tank.

I recently upgraded to a larger tank and the temp and been staggered down to 80 degrees, and no breeding thank gawd. I have about 150-300 fry I need to grow out and get rid of, then I will kick it back up to 84.

Usually, with my tank temp set at 84 I do a 20% WC with water at 80 that tends to drop the tank to a temp of 82 every three to four days. They breed like clock work I mark down on a calander when they beging to hold and when I strip the fry (in wiggler stage)

This is what I have done with great success.

[johnpeezy]

OH I forgot to mention I have a 5.5 gallon with shellies in it. THAT tank temp varies with the time of day. During Mid-day to afternoon it hits a high of 80 in the late nights and morning it floats around 74-76. That tanks is also loaded with babies.

I do less routine matinence on this tank maybe a 1 gallon WC every two weeks with water at 80 degrees. I leave the tank covered in algae (food for babies, and the moms get aggrovated when you look at them ) so its very hard to tell how many are actually in there but there is alot.

[jpappy789]

OH I forgot to mention I have a 5.5 gallon with shellies in it. THAT tank temp varies with the time of day. During Mid-day to afternoon it hits a high of 80 in the late nights and morning it floats around 74-76. That tanks is also loaded with babies.

I do less routine matinence on this tank maybe a 1 gallon WC every two weeks with water at 80 degrees. I leave the tank covered in algae (food for babies, and the moms get aggrovated when you look at them ) so its very hard to tell how many are actually in there but there is alot.

I would say that you should definitely get an idea of what your population is. It's not hard to overstock a small tank like that and they will only keep breeding...

[johnpeezy]

well its under 20 and there all between 2mm and under. I would guess I have about 10 fry in the but who really knows. Its such a pain in the keester to seperate the little buggers from the parents in a diffrent tank, they all hide in the parents shell. If you put something in the tank the parents go in the shell with them.

So if you have some secret method of seperating the babies from mom I'm all ears.

[jpappy789]

I haven't had to yet as my tank size has allowed for more unchecked growth, but I wouldn't separate fry. Only go for adults as they'll be far easier to catch. I'm sure other members will have some insightful tips on specific methods.

[rogersb]

I've never done it, but I've read that they are more low level dwellers than shelldwellers. The theory is that if you take their shells and put them at an elevated level in a bucket or tank they will eventually come out and go to the bottom of the tank/bucket. I've read others have great success with this for getting them out of shells.