How to Get Cichlid Fish to Mate
- 1). Raise healthy cichlids by monitoring water quality with a test kit, installing a good filtration system into the aquarium, doing regular water changes and maintaining the correct water temperature with a tank heater. Only fish that are healthy will be able to breed, so chose only the strongest and most attractive fish for mating.
- 2). Keep a breeding male and female pair or a group of fish in a separate tank. Many cichlids will breed in pairs, although keeping a group may raise the likelihood of successful breeding.
- 3). Prepare the spawning tank by providing a place the cichlids to hide so that they are comfortable breeding and laying eggs. Cave breeding cichlids, such as Apistogramma dwarf, should be provided with a terracotta pot or some other cave-like structure.
- 4). Provide rocks as a surface for cichlids like discus to lay eggs on and substrate for mouth brooding cichlids like the Egyptian mouth-brooder to lay eggs in before the female puts them in her mouth.
- 5). Watch the fish that are intended to breed carefully for signs of aggression or distress. Cichlids that are stressed will not breed, or worse, an aggressive male may kill a female.
- 6). Keep the water temperature consistent once eggs are laid to ensure the eggs will hatch.
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