Heckalli breeding tips.

[pjsammut]

Hi. I currently have a few heckalli in a SA community aquarium. 2 are showing interest and are displaying and some soft jaw locking. They are around 7.5 inches and I believe a pair. There are a number of disruptive fish in with them so they always get interupted before anything eventuates so I am thinking of removing them to a 4x2 aquarium and giving breeding a go. I was wondering if anyone has experience in successfully breeding these beautiful fish and how best I should setup the tank? Any specifics on diet, water temp, ph etc would be most appreciated.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[bbortko]

I've never attempted to breed the but there is a good article on the subject at cichlidae.com

 

[jonclark96]

I believe they are a very difficult species to breed in captivity. I remember reading somewhere that they like to spawn in the top of a cave. The article said that the breeder used large PVC pipe with a horizontal section, a 90 degree turn, then a vertical piece with a cap and the fish spawned inside the tube on the horizontal surface on the cap. I've never tried myself.

Good luck and keep us posted of your progress.

 

[darth pike]

Others have used a flowerpot on it's top rim with the bottom knocked out. In nature they dig caves into the substrate before laying eggs, but I don't recommend a tank with over a foot of substrate to try that one.