Breeding Large Cichlids
- Thread starter scott
- Start date
Like the last post said more info is needed. I have bred just about every large SA/CA cichlid from convicts to wild caught Dovii. Different cichlids will require different needs to breed.
I am trying to breed festae. I currently have five juveniles (about an inch and a half) in a 150. I plan on using a divider, once they pair off. Filtration is a Fluval 404 for a biofilter and two AC 500s. Ph is 7.5 KH is three degrees. Temp 79. There will be no tankmates.
Also how long should I expect it to take for them to pair off, I am thinking about eight months?
I was just looking for some general suggestions on how to set up the tank for the breeding and what to do with the fry. Thanks.
Also how long should I expect it to take for them to pair off, I am thinking about eight months?
I was just looking for some general suggestions on how to set up the tank for the breeding and what to do with the fry. Thanks.
Well scott, if they are true festae they can be very difficult to breed. It is common for pairs of that species to liquidate one another during breeding. Have you bred any other entry level cichlids before like dempey, convicts, or firemouths? previous experience is helpful when attempting to breed a cichlid like a festae.
The festae is only endemic to Rio drainages of Ecuador. Because of this limited distribution they do not tolorate a wide range of water parameters like some other cichlids do. The divided method is used to allow a smaller female to escape a larger more aggressive male. Females festae are more aggressive then males and can actually kill off a larger male in this speces, hence the divider method usually does not work. finally feaste mature a very slow rate makeing them more likely as juvniles to wipe out one another (feaste will not tolorate one another). I and many others have found the feaste a very challanging cichlid to breed. I would recommend if you do not have previous experience with other cichlids and know what to look for, how to handle them and the fry do not attempt the festae.
Here are some tips to get you going.
Water temp. 80 to 83°f PH of 6.7 with low minerial content. Because of their aggression and the fact that females can be just a bad as male use alot of cover and rocks to allow them to get away from one another. Place several flat rockes and large caves in the tank to allow them to choose a breeding site. watch for typical large cichlid breeding behavior. The female will become a very bright red around the head when in breeding dress, and some males may show a stripe pattern. If you see them killing one another put up a divider (egg creat) and place a large flat rock on the females side. angle the rock toward the males side of the tank. The male will still in most cases be able the fertilize some of the eggs. When you see the pair starting to show breeding behavior feed them well. This will help with aggression and condition them for breeding. Raw fish and shrim meat along with a good quality dry pellet or stick foods. They are omnivors and will consume most all foods. Good luck
The festae is only endemic to Rio drainages of Ecuador. Because of this limited distribution they do not tolorate a wide range of water parameters like some other cichlids do. The divided method is used to allow a smaller female to escape a larger more aggressive male. Females festae are more aggressive then males and can actually kill off a larger male in this speces, hence the divider method usually does not work. finally feaste mature a very slow rate makeing them more likely as juvniles to wipe out one another (feaste will not tolorate one another). I and many others have found the feaste a very challanging cichlid to breed. I would recommend if you do not have previous experience with other cichlids and know what to look for, how to handle them and the fry do not attempt the festae.
Here are some tips to get you going.
Water temp. 80 to 83°f PH of 6.7 with low minerial content. Because of their aggression and the fact that females can be just a bad as male use alot of cover and rocks to allow them to get away from one another. Place several flat rockes and large caves in the tank to allow them to choose a breeding site. watch for typical large cichlid breeding behavior. The female will become a very bright red around the head when in breeding dress, and some males may show a stripe pattern. If you see them killing one another put up a divider (egg creat) and place a large flat rock on the females side. angle the rock toward the males side of the tank. The male will still in most cases be able the fertilize some of the eggs. When you see the pair starting to show breeding behavior feed them well. This will help with aggression and condition them for breeding. Raw fish and shrim meat along with a good quality dry pellet or stick foods. They are omnivors and will consume most all foods. Good luck
Thanks for the tips. They are F1 festae from Jeff Rapps. I have bred convicts (all be it a long time ago) and more recently my Blackbelt (all be it accidental) but I was interested in the festae because of the challenge and I believe I have the patience and willingness to learn to make it successful.
Do you think some target fish will help aleviate the crankiness while maturing? I was thinking of putting up the eggcrate as soon as a pair forms, will this mess up any pair bond?
Do you think some target fish will help aleviate the crankiness while maturing? I was thinking of putting up the eggcrate as soon as a pair forms, will this mess up any pair bond?
F1's from rapps should make excellent breeding stock. The egg create will not afffect the pair in all the cases I have had or heard of. When a pair forms they will show the same behavior the blackbelts and convicts displayed only on somewhat more aggressive level. Hobbiest who have never seen cichlids breed sometimes ask why that are acting funny or fighting. When they describe there behavior is becomes clear they are showing breeding signs. So experience in seeing other easier to breed cichlids helps out greatly when attempting to breed harder cichlids like the feaste. It's hard to judge a persons confendence level on the net so I usually warn people before hand. As far a target fish go it may or may not help in this case. I know target fish just tick off most guapotes, but don't have any experience with target fish and festae. It sound like you have everything covered. IMO festae are among the most difficult SA/CA cichlids the aquire and breed. IF you can breed them you can just about breed any other cichlid out their. Keep us posted to your progress scott.
Thanks for all of the tips, I really appreciate your input. I have some Giant Danios in there now and I will see the effect it has as the fish grow. I was hoping it would buy me more time with in fighting while a pair forms. I will jack up the temp and switch to an RO mix to get the pH and TDS down. Like I said they are only about and inch and a half now so I am hoping to have a pair by Christmas. Anyway thanks for all of the advice.
Oh yeah, in your experience what size do the fish start to show their sex?
Oh yeah, in your experience what size do the fish start to show their sex?