hi i have a 55 gallon tank with 6, 1 - 1.5" assoted african cichlids. (i don't know what kind they are but i know what colors they are) colors - blue, eletric yellow, orange, tiger striped one, green with black stripes, and a albino cichlid. i was wondering how big do they need to be to mate? or how many more days until they'll mate? of my 6 cichlids i think 4 of them are the same species, and the other two aren't.since they're diferent colors they can still breed right? and can my other 2 different cichlids breed with my other 4 mbunas?
2006-12-13 12:34:19 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
I don't think they will mate at all. They all sound like different species. You can't breed two different species together, not even if they're both mbuna. They have to be the exact same type ie two yellow labs can breed, but you can't breed a yellow lab and an ellectric blue.
FIND OUT WHAT THEY ARE! Then you will know what you have to do if you want to encourage breeding.
2006-12-13 13:02:00 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm an african cichlid owner myself and it seems as though you have a bunch of mix matched cichlids. The white/black striped one is probably bigger and that's because it's called a Convict.
If you want your cichlids to breed, then you're going to have to buy matching. The Convicts (white/black striped) will definitely breed easily. Also, the electric yellow with a small black stripe will breed easily.
Buy more cichlids of alike colors, patterns and you will have a breeding frenzy.
***FYI*** When african cichlids breed, they become VERY territorial and aggresive towards all other fish except for their mate and babies. They will end up taking over atleast half the tank and killing some of the other fish. Usually you can't find the babies for 1-2 weeks because they're hiding under rocks. Make sure you buy a small size tank and transfer the babies into it. The parents of the babies will become non-aggressive and go back to being normal.
Hope everything goes well! Happy holidays!
2006-12-13 20:45:20 · answer #2 · answered by J RO 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Angeli, it sounds like you've got a lot to learn about cichlids and mating should be the last thing on your mind. The amount of information you need is tough to squeeze into a little yahoo post.
For one, you've mixed mbuna and convict cichlids - different fish with different behaviors and breeding habits, and as your fish mature you're going to watch your tank plummet into chaos (and no, the two can't breed, one type is a substrate spawner, the other a mouthbrooder). As far as the mbuna go, the tank isn't crowded enough with them so aggression will take its toll on the weaker fish. Plus you're trying to crossbreed, which produces hybrids, which are unpredictable and not recommended.
What you should do is first choose between the mbuna and the convict cichlids. Then, set up the tank according to their needs. If you choose mbuna, learn how to properly stock your tank, keep the fish, and breed quality pure-bred fish.
Buy a book or go to a site like cichlid-forum.com, either way you will do very well to learn about these wonderful fish so that you can keep them properly truly enjoy them.
good luck
2006-12-14 13:19:41 · answer #3 · answered by Ghapy 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They can breed as small as 2"-2.5" (I have a several of that size mouthbrooding fry right now). I've also had them start once they got up to 4", so it all depends.
Mbuna can breed outside their species if their own kind is absent from the tank. The fry will be hybrids (and considered worthless in the hobby). But whether they will breed with the other types depends on several factors (rivals belonging to the predominant species in the tank, etc).
To successfully breed mbuna and minimize the possibility of creating hybrids, you'll want 1 male per 2-3 females (per species).
2006-12-13 22:41:14 · answer #4 · answered by Kay B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they should be able to breed and if the different species breed together youll get a hybrid, so when the young ones grow up theyll look different when compared to the others. (like color, design, etc...)
but your cichlids are too small to be breeding, wait alittle more they might start at like 3-6 inches maybe, but you might not even reconizes it, but watch out for two getting together in a territory where only they are together and are chasing other cichilds away, good sign that their breeding.
but while their still small feed them good, but dont over feed and condition them with some live foods, frozen foods, and dried foods since it is good for them.
good luck!!!
2006-12-13 21:52:21 · answer #5 · answered by azn.balla 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well some cichlids are mouth brooders. Most likely the blue ones are tropheus cichlids and these are mouth brooders. Convicts will breed easily and Cichlids CAN be great parents.
2006-12-14 11:09:31 · answer #6 · answered by unknownbastard2007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋