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nevchewy

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Posts posted by nevchewy

  18. Breeding African cichlids how??

    in Breeding Forum

    Posted · Edited by nevchewy

    I should add...

    Prepare to buy more tanks.

    I started off with just an 86 gallon tanks but then I bought 2 10 gallon tanks for holding females.

    Once the female is stripped (generally after >20 days of holding) keep your fry in a small plastic breeding tanks with an air stone. Feed only when their egg sacs are completely gone. I currently feed NLS growth to my babies. The fry are okay to keep together in the same breeder tank at the start but after a week its good to divide them in half and keep the other half in another breeder tank with another air stone.

    after a week or 2 at most they should be getting big enough to let loose in the 10 gallon tank. I use a sponge filter on my AC intake to make sure they do not get sucked up.

    I feed 2-3 times daily and make sure to do a 20% water change twice a week. If you find there is food left over at the bottom of the tank either feed less or get some baby plecos as they are perfect for cleaning up any mess!

    Finally I had to bought a 30 gallon tank for grow out. Once your fry hit 1 - 1.5 inches you will either have to sell them quickly or move them to a new home where they can grow out. I find a 30 gallon works perfect.

    I will wait until the youngsters get about 2.5 inches before I will introduce them back in the 86 gallon with their parents. This is if I do not sell or give them away before the 2.5 inch mark.

    I have successfully spawned these Mbuna - Saulosi, Rusty's, Red Zebra, Polit, Afra's with this system.

    I just got my first small batch of Lwanda (Peacock) babies as 4 of the 5 made it and started eating yesterday.

    My goal is to breed the Pheno's (Haps) that I have been growing out since 3 inches. The male is about 5.5 inches and the female is about 4.5 inches now. I hope they will spawn once they get a bit bigger.

    Good luck with everything!

    nev

  19. Book recomendations

    in African Cichlids

    Posted

    You will find a lot of information on the web as well as forums such as this one.

    I have found Cichlid Forum to be very helpful with all types of Africans.

    Here is the link.

    http://www.cichlid-forum.com/

    There are lots of African fish lovers on this site too which they are always willing to help out... you just have to post the question.

    As for books... i can say that i haven't bought one yet, but found the internet to be well worth its value.

    nev

  20. Breeding African cichlids how??

    in Breeding Forum

    Posted

    here is a good link:

    http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/breeding_cichlids.php

    I have found that if you keep 1 or 2 males with 4 to 6 females of any given Mbuna, add water and they will breed. I have had no problems with any of my Mbuna spawning. I keep my water in check with regular water changes once or twice a month. I currently feed NLS which seems to bring out the best in my fish in colors and breeding habits. I never over feed.

    the problem with Acei and Labs are they are monomorphic (males and females look the same). Its easy to tell the different sex of Saulosi with males being blue and females being yellow as they are dimorphic.

    Mbuna are very easy to breed, just make sure you keep them in a 55+ gallon tank with lots of caves and rock work. If you have a group of these fish its generally easy to spot the dominant male of the group. As long as you have a couple females and not all males you shouldn't have any trouble!

    Hope this helps!

    nev

  21. Is this possible?

    in Breeding Forum

    Posted · Edited by nevchewy

    I just stripped my Lwanda female for her first batch of 5 fry. I was very happy to see her hold to term as this was her 5th time holding.

    this is where i get confused.

    After 5 wigglers swam out i noticed there was something still in her mouth. At first i thought it was might have been just a peice of gravel but i kept her mouth open and she spat out 2 new eggs. These eggs looked like they were layed yesterday as they were not formed to show any developing fry.

    there are 2 logical possible theorys that i have come up with:

    1 - The eggs never developed and she kept holding on to them...???

    or

    2 - My Red Zebra's did their dance a coulple of days ago and the female has a huge mouthful. Is it possible that the zebra dropped a couple of eggs and the Lwanda picked them up with her maternal instincts?

    I could only guess that it is number 2 but what do you think?

    nev

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