Need Advice on Breeding Cichlids

[APAC]

I have been keeping peacocks and haps in a 72 gallon and have decided to plunge into the cichlid breeding hobby/business. This 72 gallon will be a breeding project tank as well as a 112 gallon I have setup that is empty now that I've sold my previous stock of fish. I also have 4 intended "grow out" tanks setup: 46gal bow, 20gal, (2) 10 gals. My questions:
1-What are the biggest pros and cons of cichlid breeding?
2-Is it a good idea to only breed a certain type of african cichlid like only haps or only peacocks or only mbuna or can I breed both haps and peacocks which are my favorites?
3-Will a $115 budget from the previous stock of fish I sold out of my 112gallon be enough to buy proven breeding pairs?
4-I have been told that I will lose a lot of fish due to aggression and a lot of fry due to hungry parents so I am prepared but is there anything you cichlid breeders out there have done to try and prevent this?
5-Although I have my tanks already setup, tell me what you believe is the best set up to get a pair/trio of peacocks or haps to successfully breed including water parameters, tank substrate and structures and anything else you can think of.
6. Finally....Here's the fish I have, all 2-3" and all males I believe but kind of iffy on the Rubin Red Peacock:
1 Rubin Red Peacock
1 Sunshine Peacock
1 Strawberry Peacock
1 Oblique Victorian
1 Electric Blue Haplochromis
What is the best way to work with the fish already have to produce some breeding machines?

 

[Pharaoh]

What you have are all common Africans or hybrids. I would say take the cash that you have saved up and buy an oddball fish that isn't so common.

 

[Blue2Fyre]

Most breeders also spend money and get wild caught fish to better improve the bloodlines.
Are you housing all of those fish together? You will get hybrids if you do. If you are serious about breeding then you need to set up tanks for individual species. And you'll need to set up tanks for the growing babies. It'll take a lot of money to get started and it will take a while to earn the money back.

 

[APAC]

I'm not seeing the logic in buying an oddball fish, how will that help breed cichlids?
As mentioned above I have plenty of tanks to seperate the current males into tanks with 2-3 females and tanks for the fry to grow out. I have spent hundreds in the setups I have now and have no problem spending hundreds more I just need some GOOD ADVICE! I have no intention of cross breeding my peacocks or haps and just need advice on how to go about getting breeding pairs, setting the tank up for an optimal chance of breeding, and so forth.

 

[Blue2Fyre]

As far as oddball I think he meant a less common species of cichlid. Something rare.

Also as I said before spending money on wild caught pairs is a good way to improve the genetics of the fish you are breeding.

They breed pretty well on their own. You could trying doing water changes with slightly cooler water. This puts my mbuna in the mood. I don't think you need to spend extra on getting proven pairs. These fish don't pair up like SA cichlids. The more females you have the better your chances as far as breeding. Strip the females after they have been holding for a couple weeks will also make sure you have the most fry survive.

 

[aloys]

He recommended oddball's or other rarer cichlids just to help you try to make this profitable.

There are soo many common cichlids out there your not going to be able to sell them for much, but if you actually get some rarer oddballs to breed you could actually make some money.

 

[Pharaoh]

Yes, my assumption was based on the fact that you would be breeding these cichlids to distribute/sell.

Good advice for breeding Africans would start with having a solid group in a single species tank. Something with a male to female ratio of about 1 male to every 3 to 4 females.

Consitent water quality is a must. Plenty of caves, rocks and/or hiding spaces for all of the fish. One other thing to try is to cool the incoming water a bit to encourage spawning.

There's not a whole lot to breeding Africans. As stated above, they pretty much take care of it themselves. You just have to keep them healthy.

 

[APAC]

this is great advice guys! I completely misunderstood that oddball comment until I messaged a cichlid breeder in Greenwood today. He said basically what you guys are advising:
Nick-My advise is to get something rare and go with that. If you can find it in a pet store you will have a hard time making money and your tanks will be overcrowded cuz they won't sell. It's hard to compete with big pet stores unless your gonna give them away. Peacocks are beautiful but the problem with them is most people want a fish showing color and as you know it takes awhile for this to happen. Which means you have to house them longer and it cost you more out of pocket. Mbunas I think are a good way to go cuz they color up at about an inch. Do your homework find beautiful fish you like. Beware buying trios online you don't know really know what your getting until it's to late. The best way to go is 4 females and 1 male. I like to have 2 males in case
something happens to one. There is alot of cool Africans to be had out there it kinda depends on your taste in what you want. Like I said find fish you can't bye everywhere. I had psuedotropheus polits cove F1 and I couldn't hardly keep them. At the same time I had sunshines and socolofi and these didn't sell nearly as well. Like I said it's all about having the fish everyone wants and nobody can get ahold of.. My msobo I have I was offered 100.00 for because my budy looked for 6 months and couldn't find one. I know a few people that breed Africans let me know what you want and I'll c if I can help you find them. Btw check the greater Chicago cichlid club they have really good deals on some rare fish. Let me know if I can help with anything else.

 

[APAC]

so I have decided to use $200 (and possibly a $180 student loan to try and buy enough african cichlids to have 2 species tanks of rare cichlids with 1-2 males and 4-5 females: 1 group will be in my 72gal the other in the 110gal, anyone have suggestions on what rare african cichlid would be a good seller? what african cichlid would you wanna buy at a low cost from a breeder? i'll see about gettin my hands on some nice F0 or F1

 

[oshp132]

If you are looking to make a little profit and enjoy the hobby, I'd suggest a trio of Champsochromis Caeruleus.....But you would need a larger tank (at least 220). I suggest these, because they are not real common, and when found, they are pretty pricey. The juvi's I've seen (3") go for around $30/each.....That's pretty good, considering they are about 1" when spit!!