Breeding Jaguar Cichlids

Hey everyone,

I have some questions about breeding a pair of jaguar cichlids. Here is my situation:

I have a large male jaguar (10 inches plus) and a smaller female jaguar (5 inches). They are both alone together in my 90 gallon tank set up with gravel, texas holey rock, slate rock, and fake plants. I have provided the female plenty of areas that only she can fit into so that she can escape from the male. So far however, the male has been quite gentle with her considering his size. They have been together for about a week now. The female is not afraid of the male as she swims along side of him, rubs against him and so on. They are now both brushing up against a large piece of slate rock placed in the tank and they have been doing so for couple of days. I do not see any eggs thus far however.

Is there anything I could do to "spark" spawning? I did a relatively large water change when I first put the female in the tank (this past weekend). The water is quite clean and I turned the temp to 82 degrees. Any other suggestions?

Thanks so much for your help...

Thanks guys,

I feed the them cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp, and frozen blood worms. I will continue to do water changes weekly as you suggested. We shall see I suppose.

Thanks again for your help,
Nick

Hey Fellas,

My male jaguar has been showing some strange signs of aggression toward my female. He is constantly bumping into her, nipping at her, and directing her into different positions of the tank. He has not nor will he flat out bit her or seriously try to hurt her (yet anyway). The strange thing is, the female doesn't necessarily go for cover. She keeps trying to swim with him and follow him around the tank. She could easily go and hide under the many rocks in my tank. He only chases her when she keeps getting close to him. At time, they also swim up and down together in a corner of the tank and then he will chase her away. Is this courting type behavior? I figured those of you who have mated jags in the past might recognzie this odd behavior. Just wondering...

thanks,
ND

Hey there,

These pictures look exactly like my jags. I mean literally the exact pair. Interesting. Ok, I just did another water change this past weekend. I do not notice the ovipositor on the female at this point however. I will continue to monitor the situation.

Thanks