Ideal breeding tank size for Red devil cichlids?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
I also agree with a 6' tank... with the caveat that there is a solid chance that you still need to divide the pair at some point or all the time.

You can increase your chances of getting a well-bonded pair by starting with at least 6 young fish and letting them pair off on their own.

To keep a pair bonded requires that the pair has an outlet for aggression other than each other. I keep a third wheel fish behind a divider to give the pair something to defend against. Without the divider, even in a 6' tank, other fish will be toast.
 
Thank you guys, may be ill go with 125 gallon. Hoping that my pair will develop a good bond.
 
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I also agree with a 6' tank... with the caveat that there is a solid chance that you still need to divide the pair at some point or all the time.

You can increase your chances of getting a well-bonded pair by starting with at least 6 young fish and letting them pair off on their own.

To keep a pair bonded requires that the pair has an outlet for aggression other than each other. I keep a third wheel fish behind a divider to give the pair something to defend against. Without the divider, even in a 6' tank, other fish will be toast.
Agree, I always keep dividers at the ready, or constantly set in tanks with pairs, 6 ft tank or not, for all medium to large cichlids.
Not the most aesthetically pleasing, but without them, one of the pair seems always at risk, especially if one individual, is smaller than the other.
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They need support, because a rutting male can easily topple a flimsy one.
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And tall enough not to be easily jumped over
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Agree, I always keep dividers at the ready, or constantly set in tanks with pairs, 6 ft tank or not, for all medium to large cichlids.
Not the most aesthetically pleasing, but without them, one of the pair seems always at risk, especially if one individual, is smaller than the other.
View attachment 1458153
They need support, because a rutting male can easily topple a flimsy one.
View attachment 1458154
And tall enough not to be easily jumped over
View attachment 1458155
is there any difference in using a rack divider or a glass divider? I have a glass divider in hand.
 
As you can see in my photo, the ability to cut spaces out only the smaller females can swim thru to escape the male ics important to me.
I also believe beyond the visual aspect, cichlids communicate with pheromones and scent, so a divider that allows free flow of water allowing those factors to come into play..
I have also had cichlids male on one side, female the other, spawn thru the divider.
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Above female on the downstream side, putting eggs on a rock.
Below, male upstream (flow), releasing milt.
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I don't think this would have been possible using a glass divider that restricted flow.
In the case above, male and female were almost equal in size, preventing the ability to use holes as escape routes for the female.
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I have also had females kill males during and after spawns.
The female Tomocichla tube below killed 2 males before spawning with the 3rd, and killed the 3rd, almost immediately after spawning.
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