anyone with any infos on Neolamprologus meeli

[Mad About Cichlids]

Oh damn my bad, didn't expect them to breed this soon for me. Just threw the pictus in there cause they were coming out much. Guess tending to eggs/young was one of the reasons. I still got half a dozen left so it's cool.


Are they mouthbrooders by any chance? Would be interesting to see something like that happen. Even though I'm guessing not as every time I peered into the tank the babies just dashes inside the shells.

 

[mike dunagan]

if they are shellies... hint the name they use shells (or small caves)

 

[straitjacketstar]

Pseudotropheus livingstonii (junior syn. P. lanisticola) are mouthbrooding shelldwellers.
Of course to find a cichlid that does not mouthbrood in Lake Malawi is exception. And while mouthbrooding cichlids are not uncommon in Tanganyika I am not aware of any shelldwelling cichlids that mouthbrood in Lake Tang. Lepidio. meeli/hecqui are not mouthbrooders. They do move their fry around by mouth if/when they need to though.
Don't worry about this brood. That pair will be at it again in no time.

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

Would they be fine in same tank as parents or will I eventually have to get them their own tanks? Don't really mind raising these as they seem to be uncommon for now.

 

[straitjacketstar]

They'll be fine till mom and dad want to spawn again which might be sooner rather than later since there are so few left of this spawn.
They're not meticulous about fry care. The kids just bask in the safety of a fiercely defended territory.

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

Thanks


I have never really bred African cichlids before. Well besides the mixed species tank long ago which doesn't count

Not sure if the pair is going to breed anytime soon as each of the parents has their own shell right now.

 

[straitjacketstar]

Ah. They're one of those couples then.
Love between Tangs can be fickle. much like that between CA cichlids but Tangs are quicker to get over it IMO and a little lacking in the passion department. lol

Do you still have any fry left? Might be that the female has rejected them male? Either way I wouldn't worry. They have a strong drive to spawn and not having much of an option for different mates they'll be back at it even if they are broken up ATM.

 

[Mad About Cichlids]

They're never really stayed together that's why I didn't know that they bred in the first place.


All the babies are still there and are getting bigger everyday Currently has only two shells in there but thinking about pickup more just in case the babies need a place to hide from the parents or something.


Any ideas on dithers? I'm thinking about Giant Danios and bristlenose plecos.

 

[straitjacketstar]

Bristlenoses won't do much for shellies. Giant danios might be ok but you wouldn't see much in the way of fry production. The danios would eat them at any chance they would get.
If you only have two shells in the tank I could see why you'd have a problem. More shells and even a rockpile would serve them nicely. You may even notice the male become more of a rockdweller than shelldweller and the female using the shells primarily since she would probably feel more secure in the smaller space.