I have what I "Think" is a male Kenyi Cichlid. I'm not so sure anymore for several reasons:
- 1. "He" is holding about ten fry.
2. "He" showed female mating behavior with my dominant male. (Swirling with him and biting at the egg spot on his fin when he presented it.)
Here's my issue:
I've never had mouth brooding cichlids before so I don't know how to care for the young. He/She seems to be a great parent so far (hasn't been eating the fry or releasing them into the tank for no reason).
Here's a couple ideas:
1. Buying a breeders net to hold parent and fry until he/she is ready to release them and then being able to keep them in the net until they're ready to be released into a larger grow out tank or released into the main tank (survival of the fittest?)
2. Buying a tank divider. Gatta say I'm not to terribly crazy about that idea for two reasons: 1. I've used tank dividers before and they always seem a bit flimsy and leave gaps that tiny fry could get through easily. 2. That sections of space that my other cichlids use all the time.
3. Using a Rubbermaid tub as a temporary fry holding tank. (done this with guppy fry and raised them to maturity). Drawback is that it's YET ANOTHER "Unsightly mess" in the house. and requires the purchase of another heater (I have a sponge filter I use for baby tanks.)
Does anyone else have any ideas? How long should he/she hold them for. One fry still seemed disoriented and had a prominent egg sac (not sure if it's healthy or not). Several though seemed reluctant once released to go back to the parent's mouth so it seemed several of them seemed ready to be a little more independent. Now that the fry have hatched should I be feeding them anything? (kinda hard to since he/she keeps them in her mouth)
ANOTHER QUERY:
IS THIS A MALE KENYI OR NOT!? Could I have myself a Pseudotropheus saulosi female?
