My Istlanum pair is guarding another batch of fry. This is the 3rd time in a few months. I know how hard it is to lose a female when you try to breed cichlids. I am not saying that this is a full proof way of doing it (maybe I just got luccky?) but this is what I did:
1) I dedicated a big tank (8' 210 g tank)
2) I bought 8 of them. They came in at 1 1/2 inches.
3) I grew them out with tankmates. I had success with salvini's, neet's, and godmanni's
4) I was able to get two pairs from the 8. Unfortunately, some did not make it from aggression and some from sickness.
5) The first time they had fry, I took out all the other fishes and left the pair and fry in the big tank.
Now, I have a bonded pair. I have a tank beside this tank with a breeding pair of Grammodes. It works both ways for the two pairs because the aggression is focused on the other tank/pair w/o any physical contact.
I hope this helps but again, this is just something that worked out for me and there's really no guarantee with cichlids.
BTW, SOCAL members, please let me know if you're interested in some. The first and 2nd batch are ready now.
1) I dedicated a big tank (8' 210 g tank)
2) I bought 8 of them. They came in at 1 1/2 inches.
3) I grew them out with tankmates. I had success with salvini's, neet's, and godmanni's
4) I was able to get two pairs from the 8. Unfortunately, some did not make it from aggression and some from sickness.
5) The first time they had fry, I took out all the other fishes and left the pair and fry in the big tank.
Now, I have a bonded pair. I have a tank beside this tank with a breeding pair of Grammodes. It works both ways for the two pairs because the aggression is focused on the other tank/pair w/o any physical contact.
I hope this helps but again, this is just something that worked out for me and there's really no guarantee with cichlids.
BTW, SOCAL members, please let me know if you're interested in some. The first and 2nd batch are ready now.
Well congrats on your spawn. Any chance to see some pics of the fry?