my first ever cichlid spawn! Yay!

[zoezealand]

hello, I'm just shareing my excitement!

I have had 10 african cichlids, 6 e/ yellows and 4 saulosi for a month or two, and yesterday my saulosi spawned!  :D  :D  :D
they are only 5cm long,
I think I just caught the end of it, because I didn't see any eggs, but she has a pretty full mouth....

In another week or two I'll move her to a seperate tank where she can spit, I'm not getting my hopes up, because I've read that they usually don't hold full term the first time, but I shall keep you updated

Kathryn :D

Congrats Kathryn

You'll be surpried how many she has in there, saulosi are only tiny little eggs/fry. Won't be long now till you forget all about those tropicals and switch exclusively to cichlids.

Cheers, Doug

[Tabbycat]

Congrats. I know he feeling i have 2 mouthfuls of Lombardi babys swiming around the bottom of my tank with another on the way. It is so cool. I am not in it for breeding breeding so I dont take them out. But out of 2 mouthfuls I have 8 babys and the girls are only about 5cm long so I don't think that is to bad. Keep up updated on how she goes  :D

[Ulysses048]

Congratulations Zoe .... isn't it exciting? - that's what got me hooked on breedng cichlids..... I never tire of watching their behaviour ... particularly when spawning.... you will now be hooked on Africans !!!!
Regards
Carole

[GTR73]

Welcome to the wonderful world of mouthbrooders.  :D

[here fishie fishie]

Congrats on the good news. Hope all goes well with them.

Frenchy :D

[zoezealand]

ok, it's been a week, and her mouth may have gotten a bit smaller :?

I think she is still holding, but I'm not sure, here are the best pics of her, and by the way, they aren't a special spotted saulosi, I just never thought to clean the glass :lol:

[img:5ba98130c6]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/zoezealand/PA290019.jpg[/img:5ba98130c6]
[img:5ba98130c6]http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i33/zoezealand/PA290018.jpg[/img:5ba98130c6]

do you think I should move her to a smaller aquarium (~15L) now? or wait a bit longer?

thanks
Kathryn

[zoezealand]

hello again,
it's nearly been 2 weeks, and my female is in the maternity tank (and definatly still holding :D ), she spend the first ~5 days in the tank hidding in a cave, but now she is swimming everywhere (even more active than the normal ones) is this normal? could she be looking for food for her newly hatched?

thanks
Kathryn

[davo0903]

I tend to pop my holding females in a breeding net as soon as I see that they have a mouthful. They are very relaxed in there, and they are in the same water conditions as what they are used to. The increased activity could just be because she sees you coming. My yellow females become VERY skittish when they are holding. She sees you as a threat to her babies, which throws her into panic mode. Its only a guess, but thats what my yellows do.