How to Breed Mouth Brooding Cichlids

Cichlids are among the most popular fish for the home aquarium, and they can be a good choice for hobbyists who want to try their hand at breeding. Some species of cichlids, especially mouth brooders, can spawn quite readily given the right conditions. Setting up your tank properly and providing proper nutrition is often all it takes to create the right environment to make your tank a breeding ground for cichlids.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Rocks
  • Driftwood
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place an assortment of rocks and driftwood in your tank, to create a natural system of caves, crevices and hiding places. Cichlids, especially mouth breeders, need to have a secure place to set up a personal territory and raise their babies.

    • 2

      Purchase the recommended ratio of males and females for the species you want to breed. The ratio is different for each species of cichlid. Some mouth breeders spawn best with a single male and a harem of females, while others do better with one or two mated pairs per tank.

    • 3

      Feed your cichlids well, providing a variety of quality flake food, frozen food (such as bloodworms) and live food (such as brine shrimp). Cichlids that are in exceptional condition breed much more readily than those whose basic needs are barely being met.

    • 4

      Watch your fish carefully for signs of spawning, including changes in the appearance of the females, which may indicate they are swelling with eggs. Remove any other species of fish from the aquarium, as the cichlids breed more readily in a single species tank.

    • 5

      Provide a quality food made specifically for cichlid fry (babies) as soon as you see the tiny fish appear. Mouth breeders hold the babies in their mouths to protect them from predators, but you should be able to see some of the babies swimming around in the tank.