75 gallon, a single and a pair?

[PhishMon84]

I had a pair of Coptodon bythobates, that after spawning 3 times, I could no longer give fry away (so saturated the market), so I left the fry in a community tank. Every couple days I would watch the pair kill one other member of the community, and drag the carcass to the growing fry to feed on, amazingly dedicated parents (not so good for the community).
I finally gave the mated pair away for someone else to BAP

I’m going to assume that’s a very natural behavior and congratulate you for being able to replicate that in an aquarium.
Must be both hard to watch and fascinating at the same time.

 

[Dwl0222]

Ime three cichlids hardly ever work, one is always going to end up as the punch bag. I would go for a pair of medium size or a group, thorichthys, guianacara etc.

Yeah that seems to be the consensus. I may have to switch up my thoughts. I don’t think I want just a pair because I would like something to be able to “take care” of the fry. So maybe I just completely get away from a breeding pair all together. Sucks because I did really enjoy watching my convict pair spawn a few years back.

 

[Dwl0222]

I had a pair of Coptodon bythobates, that after spawning 3 times, I could no longer give fry away (so saturated the market), so I left the fry in a community tank. Every couple days I would watch the pair kill one other member of the community, and drag the carcass to the growing fry to feed on, amazingly dedicated parents (not so good for the community).
I finally gave the mated pair away for someone else to BAP

Wow that’s pretty incredible and sad at the same time. Beautiful fish!

 

[duanes]

Yes I have heard of another instance where this occurred in another aquarists tanks, so it may be natural. As a rule adults are not piscivores, so quite a fascinating adaptation in parenting.
This species is restricted to one tiny lake in Cameroon, lake Bermin, which may have limited resources, so requires drastic measure for the continuation of any species.
Sorry if this seems a derail, but there are many almost unheard of cichlids, that can be studied, and kept beyond just the bread-n-butter convict or JD types to choose from, waiting to be discovered.

 

[Jexnell]

I have a breeding pair of Honduran Red Points in a 55gal tank. They have Swordtails and Roseline sharks in with them as dithers. The pair has breed probably ten times now and I only have three fry. The Roseline's and Swordtails eat up the fry when it gets to swimmer stage. The HRP's return the favor and eat the swords fry.

 

[Jexnell]

What I was getting at is the balence. Everyone stays too busy breeding to bother anyone else. The only aggression from HRP's is when they run something off that is to close to the current batch of fry.

 

[Dwl0222]

What I was getting at is the balence. Everyone stays too busy breeding to bother anyone else. The only aggression from HRP's is when they run something off that is to close to the current batch of fry.

Ok great! So I could do a pair of Sajica, cons, firemouths, HRP or Keyholes etc etc and just load the rest of the tank with swordtails and let them pick off each other’s fry. I might go with something like that

 

[Jexnell]

Ok great! So I could do a pair of Sajica, cons, firemouths, HRP or Keyholes etc etc and just load the rest of the tank with swordtails and let them pick off each other’s fry. I might go with something like that

There is also a Bushynose pleco and loaches that help with the fry consumption .

But ya you can have a pair and other fish that eat the fry and still get along.

 

[Dwl0222]

There is also a Bushynose pleco and loaches that help with the fry consumption .

But ya you can have a pair and other fish that eat the fry and still get along.

Great! Would Raphael Catfish or species similar to that work as well? If I go with just a single pair (let’s say Sajica), how many juveniles should I get in order to let them pair up “naturally”? Also how many swordtails and bottom feeders? Should I be concerned at all with he sex ratio of the swords?

 

[Jexnell]

Great! Would Raphael Catfish or species similar to that work as well?

If I go with just a single pair (let’s say Sajica), how many juveniles should I get in order to let them pair up “naturally”?

Also how many swordtails and bottom feeders? Should I be concerned at all with he sex ratio of the swords?

Any of the smaller catfish would work well. Make sure there are hides as most are nocturnal and will hide all day.
With catfish really depends on your pick, some can't stand being with same species, some want to be in schoals.

Most people go with 6 juvenile fish. Tho convicts are usually a lot easier to tell male from female. Twice now, first time with common convicts second with the HRP's I only got a male and female and both times ended up with fry.

Ongoing take on Convicts
Get a male
Get a female
Add water
= fry in no time

With swords I would get one male or a whole bunch six or so. I had three male swords in a 6ft 125gal and they fought it out Highlander style till one remained. Having a bigger number of males will spread aggression. A single male works, gives the females a easier time. Female count can depend on the male count. You want at least 2f for each male. If you go solo male get eight or so females.


Plecos if Bushynose get a male and female, they could breed for you as well. If other kind of fancy pleco get one that stays smaller, like Blue Phantom, Orange seam.

Doing this up in a 75 will be a nice size. I would stay with cats/plecos that stay six to eight inch range as adults .