Breeding Cuban Cichlids

[Ghage]

First of all hello to all you Cichlid lovers. Now to my question. I currently have a breeding pair of Cuban Cichlids in a 110 gallon tank with several other Cichlids. Last week they actually bred, laid eggs and fertized them. It took about three days after the eggs where laid before fry started showing up. During that three day period I sectioned off the tank with a piece of plexi-glass with holes drilled in it. Once the fry arrived they lasted about three days, now all of them are gone. So here goes, what should I have fed the fry, how long do I keep the male and female in with the fry, and should I do frequent water changes for the fry? I really would like to keep the fry until they at least become juvies, so how does one go about doing that? I've been in the hobby for a long time but have never bothered with breeding. Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated.

Fishfann

 

[reallybigfish]

Cubans are good parents. You can keep the babies with the parents until they are 1", or you can move them out earlier if you have a separate tank. Newly hatched baby brine shrimp fed twice a day worked best for me. The only thing with this fish is they are prone to bloat when small. They are more hardy after 4". When small I try to move them as little as possible, and have the temp around 86. They are also really slow growers. It takes a lot of patience to get them over the 4" mark and away from the bloat. Good luck!

 

[Ghage]

Thanks for the info, it's greatly appreciated. It was my first attempt at breeding Cichlids so I'm sure your information will help in the future. Any ideas on water changes for the fry?

 

[reallybigfish]

25% to 50% once weekly change.

 

[Ghage]

Once again, thanks for the help.