Festae spawning question

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sbrady5pts

Plecostomus
MFK Member
Jun 7, 2008
414
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long island
My pair has been showing strong signs the last two days that they will spawn soon. The female is displaying her thing, and they are "flirting".....

They have come close before, but never actually spawned, so I am nervous they will do the same thing.

Do you think I should do a few cool/cold water changes, or just leave them? I think a big 50% water change started to trigger this action, but I do not know if I should keep doing them, or if I should leave them.

Out of all cichlids that I have raised the Festae always give me the hardest time when it comes to spawning!
 
I have the same problem with my festae as well. I was wondering if they are being disturb by me because of the location of the tank which is in the walkway near the front door.
 
I do test my water which it is fine. I do about a 25% water change once a week. I have some slate,rocks and plants. They are in a 100 gallon with a 5inch red devil(female) ,5inch(female) islantum, 6 inch grammodes(male). The female is about 7-8inches and the 10-11 inches both f0.
 
I was told that cichlids look for not only clean water but copious amount of food when selecting a breeding site. Your weekly water changes can trigger a spawn, but you do have some really aggressive species in there w/ them. I bred islantums all last year and they are vicious. My latest pairing spawned within 3 weeks of setting up a new tank. I've been using really big clay pots, and really mixing up their diets. I feed my fish a little bit of everything and 1st water change in a newly set up 75 they spawned. What do you feed them? The manager of my local shop used to breed festae too. He told me that adding and extra male would trigger a spawn. I was planning to add a male w/ a divider on a far side, you can try that as well but you do have some monsters in there. I actually put a male festae in w/ a pair of islantum before and it triggered the islantum to spawn. Join our group Festae Fanatics so we can share info, good luck bro.

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125 gallon. water is good both are 8 inches. There is 2 large caves at one end, where they are setting up to spawn and an additional cave at the other end in case they need a break
 
I been thinking of removing the other fish and replacing them with red hooks. Also I have been mixing up there food with pellets and earth worms.
 
my understanding a little salt, increase temp 1-2 degree's and a water change (15-20%) is good to trigger breeding. i've never bred festae though only smaller cichlids. some pics would be awsome :) GL
 
Still no eggs!! I am getting impatient. She is fully displaying her oviposter and swimming around the cave for the last day or so, but no eggs.
 
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