Labeotropheus trewavasae breeding

[gomezladdams]

I just got 3 Labeotropheus trewavasae mpanga red saturday night.this morning one of the females has a bulge under her lower jaw.Do you think she is holding already? she was certainly the more aggresive of the two females yestarday.I dont think she ate when I fed them this morn but I was watching all 3 and didnt notice the bulge right away.Ill be more sure when I feed them again later.

 

[straitjacketstar]

It certainly wouldn't be a surprise that she be holding already. My L. fuelleborni were breeding 2 or 3 days after I bought them as skinny half dead weaklings.
Females often become territorial when holding in attempt to hold her own shelter in the tank where she may brood her eggs in calm solitude.
If it's her first few times holding or there is a high amount of stress in the tank she may not hold the eggs for long. They get the hang of it though and Lebeotropheus fuelleborni & trewavasae are the most prolific mbuna I have kept.

 

[gomezladdams]

She didnt eat when I fed them,Should I take out the male? hes still doing some chasing Id like to see the little ones survive.Its just the male and two females in a 55g 3 caves and a flowerpot for cover

 

[straitjacketstar]

3 caves and a flowerpot won't be enough. They need numerous caves, as a dominant male will claim a everything within a territory if he so chooses it, usually about 1/3rd-1/2 of a 55gl tank.

With many more caves scattered throughout the aquarium the females have better chances of avoiding the male though males are keen on chasing females out into the open.

Since you want to save your fry it's a good idea to take her out, net her into a tub or container to keep her submersed at all times, and place her in her own tank to hold and spit in peace. If you don't have space or a cycled sponge filter you can use a breeder net though the quarters will be cramped and you'll need a tank or tub of at least 10gls to grow the fry out in anyway.

You don't have to rush this brood. They'll breed again soon so you can take your time to set up your fry tank and cycle a sponge filter (just get one going in the main tank for at least 2 weeks and when the fry are ready toss it in the grow-out).

Mum can be left with the fry for a while while she fattens back up though if you actually see that she's eating the fy and not just taking them back into the safety of her mouth either put her back in the main tank or QT her seperately till she's gained some size.

 

[gomezladdams]

I have a couple of 20g tanks I could reshuffle and make room for her Ill add more rocks to the main tank too thanks.Im hoping to get a few more females as soon as the weather warms up enough for shipping.

 

[straitjacketstar]

You can breed out your own females.
What I started with L. trewavasae I had a pair, single male & female. My female averaged about 50 fry spitting almost 70 on one occasion.
I grew out the fry in 10gl tanks and rubbermaid tubs (30-40gls after they reached 1") in the kitchen .
They grew steady with LOTS of large water changes and plenty of good food (mostly spirulina flakes, veggie pellets, algae tabs, fresh veggies and a high quality community or color formula thrown in at least once a day).
The variety I had were red top males and OB females. The fry were easy to sex as they males were a dark brown and the females with orange/yellow/pink with black blotches. Since I wanted more females and could not find any more locally I kept some of the female fry. At 3 " they were being courted by the male and served to help disperse aggression among the colony.
Inbreeding shouldn't be a concern unless you already see lots of genetic defects in the fry that your current female is producing. Otherwise, yes, it's a better idea to find L. trewavasae from a different source.

 

[Scotty]

I would suggest using a breeding net hanging in the same tank. I have done this with all my breeding females. Put them into the net about a week after I notice them carrying and then leave them in there for a round 3-4 days after they have spat the fry. This allows me to give them a little extra before releasing them back into the main tank. I then feed up my fry to around an inch or more before releasing into the main tank, that is if I am going to do that. This works extremely well for me and am busy feeding up over 100 fry of 5 or 6 species.
I have also experienced that some females, on first conception, don't get passed 7-10 days before they consume their eggs. Next batch they carry succesfully.

 

[gomezladdams]

Made an attempt to take her out but didnt want to freak her too much so i took the other two out.Put a sponge filter over my filter intake.now I wait.

 

[paracyprichromis]

If she just started holding wait two weeks before netting her out. More than likely she will spit the eggs. I found the first 1-3 broods the females are unsure what to do and predidation by tank mates high. After 1-3 broods. If a few survive the subsequent broods have a better chance of survival because of the various sizes in the tank. Just be patient. To get them to breed is the hardest part. Good food and frequent water changes make all the difference.

Para.

 

[gomezladdams]

Shes got a 55g to herself now and is still holding.My water is ph 8.0 out of the tap and slightly hard which is why I got interested in mbuna.Cant wait to see the youngsters!