FIREMOUTH Spawning

[Cyberman]

Well I'm pleased to announce the first spwning of my new Firemouths... The males been in the tank for less than a week and already we've got a first spawning...

MALE

MALE

FEMALE

BROOD

Not expecting much from this first spawning... probs end up getting eaten but I'm just wondering what you'd suggest for bringing this on if they do hatch successfully and the parents look after them...

Phil

 

[ilovecacichlids]

parents prolly won't eat them as long as there is no other fish in the tank.

 

[fish042099]

What are your tankmates? I want a pair of firemouths but I'm worried my fish + the fish I want to get will eat the fry.

 

[Cyberman]

I think I mentioned in your thread about set-ups what I have in the tank... Just provide lots of cover and things should be ok. The only absolute way of bringing up the fry, in these circumstanses, is to remove them after a week or two of hatching into a rearing tank

 

[snake007]

Beautiful pics!
How do you sex them by the way?

 

[Cyberman]

Theres a few ways of sexing Firemouths.... but it is a combination of 2 or 3 of the below...

(1) Size is usually bigger.

(2) Finage is usually larger and longer with larger broader extensions (but watch out for fin damage)

(3) Color usually more intense.

(4) Body is a bit more squared and elongated in the head region with a much larger mouth.

(5) Attitude is more boisterous and confident.

 

[Cyberman]

Heres the latest pics just after the fry have started to swim around.

 

[bbortko]

I've always liked firemouths but never kept them, those pics may have bumped them up to the next fish I try.

 

[aclockworkorange]

I spawned my FMs a couple months ago. They also got free swimming fry the first time. Fry got eaten by tankmates on the other side of the divider and the male killed the female over night. Hope you have better luck with them than I did, they look great.

 

[Water]

Whoa looking at your pics make me miss my old pair of T. Meeki's lol. Good luck with your spawn.