Need ideas for getting festae to spawn

[Crazylegs78]

So I have a really nice pair of wild festae that are about 12" each and approx. 3 years old. The female was always the biggest, dominant fish during grow out. At about 2-2.5 years old, the only male of my group finally became dominant and this led to a couple of spawns. Now however, they get a little frisky and do the cichlid shimmy for a couple days after a water change, but the male always gets way too aggressive before the female is ready to spawn. I have an eggcrate divider that I have to use most of the time. They are practically the same size, so I can't use the hole in divider method or otherwise give her a place to retreat that he can't access. They show no interest in spawning through the divider, only fighting. I have 8 silver dollar dithers that they show no interest in. I know that sometimes a pair just doesn't work out, but any other tips would be appreciated. Thanks!

Same fish/pic as my avatar

 

[Rocksor]

Do a cold water water change, by dropping the temperature by no more than 5 degrees. My female laid eggs in the fall and up to spring time whenever I did cold water changes to drop the temperature of the tank from 75F to 70F. Still not a guarantee though if they don't find one another compatible.

 

[Crazylegs78]

lol, my cold tap in Galveston Texas is 82F right now in my 77F fishroom! Now that you mention it, their last spawn was in the fall when tap water was cooler. I need to find a way to make this happen... Thanks for the insight!

 

[Rocksor]

lol, my cold tap in Galveston Texas is 82F right now in my 77F fishroom! Now that you mention it, their last spawn was in the fall when tap water was cooler. I need to find a way to make this happen... Thanks for the insight!

I have the same cold water problem.... the reason why I never got my female festae to drop eggs between Spring and Fall.

 

[Crazylegs78]

I have the same cold water problem.... the reason why I never got my female festae to drop eggs between Spring and Fall.

By chance, would you happen to know if carpintis require the same cooler water changes to help induce spawning? Being from northeastern Mexico, vs Peru and Equador for festae, I'm hoping not. But rainy season conditions are rainy season conditions....

 

[Rocksor]

By chance, would you happen to know if carpintis require the same cooler water changes to help induce spawning? Being from northeastern Mexico, vs Peru and Equador for festae, I'm hoping not. But rainy season conditions are rainy season conditions....

Sorry I don't. Maybe duanes can confirm that a temperature drop will induce spawning in H. carpintis.

 

[duanes]

Many cichlids are seasonable spawners.so
Rains and snow melt from the Andes may be a cue, you may need to wait until winter.
My Andinoacara spawn between Nov and Mar in Panama, just the opposite the dry season.
But if your festae originated 600 miles south, their time table might be different than another variant
My carpintus usually spawned in Sept, jus as cool weather set in, in Central Mexico (and I would turn off all heaters in their tanks.
There also may be more subtle cues like water parameters, I had a pair of managuense that would only spawn, when soft, cool rain water was added to my normally hard water.
Lots of possible factors in the mix, hard to pin down ant one alone, without many factors known.

 

[Crazylegs78]

Thank you for your inputs. I'm going to find a way to do some large water changes with cooler, softer water and see if it can induce spawning during summer months. After that, I'll just leave them to seasonal spawns.

 

[troublesum]

I have breed and raised many CA never Festae but as everyone else has said cold water WC always worked for me. Now that being said i doubt the female will breed with him shes the same size just like in the real world a woman 5ft likes a man 6ft in some ways fish are similar in picking mates