Breeding update

[Ken]

You guys may get tired of me asking all these questions but here's more.....
I tried for a second round in breeding the midas. This time things went much better. They locked jaws for about 5 minutes, afterwards, they performed a strange synchronized swimming act for hours. I turned out the lights to go to sleep. This morning the male was back to his former mean self and had the female cowered in a corner and she was badly beaten again, but not anything like last time. I removed her again and placed her back in her own tank. I maybe should have left here in there, but I had to go to work and didn't want to come home to a dead cichlid.
Any thoughts on the matter?
This is my first attempt at breeding big fish, and I don't know what behavior is acceptable.

 

[craig]

When breeding large chiclids like red devils,buttikoferi,etc.you need to place an eggcrate divider with a hole cut in it just large enough to allow the female to get through if the male gets too rough.Because if you dont the male will definitely kill her.

 

[Peanut_Power]

This is especially true with Midas, RD, Festae, Dovii and the like. It all depends on your tank size as well. I bred my jags in a 75 and a 125 with no problem...and they were pushing 14"...but they were close to size and the female wouldn't take any crap from the male. Its all a hit and miss with aggression really. But the divider is always a life saver!

 

[rweedon]

I have heard that devils and midas (same thing????) the male rams the female until she lays the eggs and at that point she is usually almost dead already is this true...