How can I entice Brichardi Cichlids to breed?

Question

I have some Brichardi's in a 55 gallon, with rock cover and caves. They are all 2" in length. I am currious if there is some food or a something I may do to entice them to breed. I have tried raising temp a couple of degrees, 10% water changes once a week, Barry White CD. Any help would be great

1 male 3 females in a 55 gallon. Temp is at 81. They have been in the tank together for about 5 months. I guess entice was the wrong word. But looking to see if anything else I may do to set the proper breeding conditions. I have breed Yellow Labs, Lithobates, and Bosmani Rainbows.

Answer 1

Haha, although the barry white cd may seem to add some extra mood setting...There is nothing you can do to 'entice' a cichlid to breed...Perfect water conditions and higher water temperature usually does the trick if the fish themselves are ready....Perfect water conditions aren't needed, cichlids have been known to breed in, well rather disgusting water, but you will have a much higher rate of success if the water is perfect. Good luck with the breeding!

Answer 2

Brichardi Cichlid Breeding

Answer 3

Patience would be a good start - your brichardi are still very young and only just approaching the age for breeding.

When they're ready they'll breed without any interference from you, as long as you've set up the tank to their needs. Temperature doesn't matter with these guys and those weekly water changes should be happening anyway. The only thing I might suggest is a check of the PH for Tanganyikans you'll want the PH above 8 and the GH above 10 for breeding. With brichardi though, the hard part isn't getting them to breed, its getting them to stop!

Answer 4

Instead of doing only 10% water change, increase it to 20%. How high up have you increased your temperature to? hmmm. It seems that the 80 - 82 degree range does it for my mbuna and peacocks. (i haven't tried breeding my brichardi just yet they're too small).

Feed them well, more frequently (in less amounts) and vary their diet although don't give too much protein.

Also, it's up to the fish when they want to breed.

How many do you have in your tank? I'd say if they haven't paired up yet then that might also be the problem. In a 55 gallon you could easily house a few colonies in that tank.

One last thing, i think the best trick/tip to induce breeding is to keep them in their own tank without having any other species in it. So you might want to move them to their own if they are in a tank with other cichlids.

Answer 5

First off. Good choice on the cichlids. I love Brichardis. To me, propably one of the most overlooked cichlids out there.
Secondly, how long have you had them in the tank together and how many males and females do you have?
Also, if your fish are still about 2 inches only, then they may still be too young to breed. Wait till the fish get a lil more mature. The males will start to get broader and taller(dorsal to belly), the females will maintain their long thin bodies. Just keep maintain proper water levels and make sure they have a nice flat surface to lay their eggs on. A nice flat rock was always a preference for all of my cichlids. Good luck!!

Answer 6

The 1st thing I would tell you is not to put the Gouramis in the community tank, they are aggressive, I had a blue gourami that took down 6 angel fish that were 3 times his size, I moved him so many times and everywhere I put him he started killing others! As far as the cichlids go it just depends on the kind that you get, but they too are aggressive, with guppies that have tailfins that they can easily nip at I would not suggest it!

Answer 7

my mum used to breed cichlids under our house. i have never heard of Brichardis before. I dont remember anything really egging them on to breeding. Try researching wat the correct PH should be for them maybe that might make them a little happier

Answer 8

Do you have pots in there as well?
or maybe they're still to small to breed


but here is a great link on breeding them
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Mahatvaraj_N_Brichardi.html


hope that helps
good luck


EB

Answer 9

Try a bigger water change and give them freeze dried brine shrimp...