sorcha Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Hi there, Quite new to the cichlid breeding side of things, I think my Auratus might be holding, do I have to do anything at this stage ie remove her, or wait a few weeks? Shes in a mixed african 430litre tank (fairly crowded), obviously later on the babies would get eaten pretty quick if I didn't move her/strip her. Can anyone please let me know how it all works and any advice for a newbie cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Generally I leave the fish in the tank as long as they aren't getting bullied.. After 2-3weeks take the female out and strip them. If you don't want to strip them then you can stick them in a small tank with some rocks in it and let them spit themselves but they can get pretty run down doing that, however if you have more spare tanks you can fatten her up again before sticking her back in the main tank (rearrange rocks etc). Congratulations and good luck you are going to need many tanks.. Also keep an eye on them, its very unlikely another fish muscled in on an auratus's female but if any others did it should be quite evident as the babies mature.. Do you have any other melo's in the tank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I do the same as ryan 8) Congrats and good luck sorcha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Hi sorcha. I use the 'Females into tanks of their own and let nature take its course method.' When I've got the female back in condition I put her back in the main tank. The fish in the pic are Cobalt Zebras. I have no experience of breeding Auratus so I can't say how they are as Mums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Neat pic Mark.... very cute brood 8) I like to get my females out as early as possible, if she has found herself a nice place in the tank and its quiet, then I will leave her till as long as possible.. if there is a chance where she is not having such a great time, with too much going on around her, I whip her out alot earlier and let her nuture her eggs into a nice brood in her own little tank... I like to strip females if I can... I don't like them losing too much condition, and most of the african females I have had here are overly motherly and just don't like the thought of letting go of their broods... :roll: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharronpaul Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Great pic well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandysme Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Oh mark that is such a cute pic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Just asking sorcha, what tank mates is your auratus in with? Is there anything in there that she may x breed with, just thought I would ask? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Thanks people. Hi sorcha. I thought you might find this be interesting... http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/stripping.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 That photo is awesome Mark thanks for sharing Those peacocks have settled in and coloured up well also, very happy owe you and Nav big time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Cheers Ryan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorcha Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Hey Guys, Thanks heaps for the advice, info & link very helpful Um, I have 7 youngish electric yellows, 2 adult male peacocks, a mixture of young maleri gold peacocks, blue dolphins & marble peacocks which I would think are too small to breed anyway, a male leleupi, a male & 2 female Maylandi Afra's, a male kenyi. Think that's it lol I did just buy a breeding pair of Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (if that's what they're called?) from tinytawny, have only had them since last friday. And I also have a male frontosa in with them whom I might look at rehoming so that he can be with other fronts, though he seems happy enough I feel mean! The male & female auratus were hanging out together in the corner and he was keeping anything else away, so figured he's the dad. I guess i'll just keep an eye on her for now, I'm not too keen on stripping her, but will try it if she get's too skinny, would it be ok to put her in a tank with bristlenoses and there babies and leave her to it? That's the only spare tank I have, it's about 80-100litres. Anyway it's exciting and thanks again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 would it be ok to put her in a tank with bristlenoses and there babies I once had a small bristlenose, 40-50mm, in a nursery tank to keep the bacteria in the filter ticking over and when I put a holding Zebra in the tank she, the Zeb, hit the BN relentlessly and killed it. JME. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I think it depends entirely on the fish... I have had bristles in nursery tank and mothers haven't given a toss about them, but then I am sure there are others that aren't so forgiving... Peacock girls been fine... and Johanni females I have kept in nurserys... I definately think it depends on individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I always keep bristlenoses in the tanks and have had no problems... Sometimes they get chased a bit but as long as there is somewhere for them to hide they should be fine.. Again probably depends on individual fish im sure someone (maybe Mark) owns a brute of a fish that will seek and destroy them thats the joy of keeping animals.. Sorcha hope they are pure Just keep an eye on them if they start colouring up randomly (ie some of the spawn come out different colours) or all the babies don't look like tiny versions of the female then cull the lot. Although it is a right pain in the ass you really should seperate the fish out and make sure they are breeding true.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sorcha Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 I always keep bristlenoses in the tanks and have had no problems... Sometimes they get chased a bit but as long as there is somewhere for them to hide they should be fine.. Again probably depends on individual fish im sure someone (maybe Mark) owns a brute of a fish that will seek and destroy them thats the joy of keeping animals.. Sorcha hope they are pure Just keep an eye on them if they start colouring up randomly (ie some of the spawn come out different colours) or all the babies don't look like tiny versions of the female then cull the lot. Although it is a right pain in the ass you really should seperate the fish out and make sure they are breeding true.. Yeah fair comment ryan, pretty slack of me lol just figured as they are still fairly young that they wouldn't start breeding for awhile and that I had time to set up more tanks! Will start looking out for some cheap breeding tanks. Will see how she goes with the bristles and she'd better not kill any lol as the LFS has promised to buy the baby bristles for a decent price once they're an inch long Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 I think it depends entirely on the fish... I guess you could say 'Different strokes for different folks' or would that be ' Different swish for different fish' :lol: as long as there is somewhere for them to hide they should be fine.. In my case it may well have been a lack of hiding places for the BN :oops: There were some, but the female was onto the BN immediately and the it had no chance to hide. It was shoved into a corner and battered. This was also in a bare bottom tank and the BN had no camo. Is the pH of both your tanks, African and BN, similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dixon1990 Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 I did just buy a breeding pair of Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos (if that's what they're called?) from tinytawny, have only had them since last friday. Coulc these possibly breed with the auratus in the future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Any of her mbuna are very likely to breed with the auratus.. I would say the blue melo's (that is what they were imported as and I am not aware of their scientific name) would be the most likely to cross breed as they're the same family and also known for being dominant and agro.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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