How to Breed Yellow Bumble Bee Cichlids

The yellow bumblebee cichlid is also known as the chameleon cichlid or the hornet cichlid. These cichlids are yellow, gold, or tan with dark stripes. They are a medium sized fish, growing to about eight inches long. They need a lot of water to roam in, and require specific diet and water conditions in order to keep them healthy. However, these fish are relatively easy to care for -- if they are kept in an optimal environment -- and are also relatively easy to breed compared to other aquarium fish.

Things You'll Need

  • 50 to 70 gallon aquarium
  • Aquarium plants
  • Aquarium rocks
  • One male yellow bumblebee cichlid
  • Three to six female yellow bumblebee cichlids
  • Siphon
  • Fresh water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Set up a tank specifically for breeding the cichlids. Since these fish are quite aggressive, you may already have a tank that houses solely bumblebee cichlids or a variety of cichlids. Either way, you will need to provide a large aquarium, between 50 and 70 gallons, containing many rocks and plants that can be utilized by the fish as hiding places. Adjust the water, using a heater if you have to, so that the temperature is between 76 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the pH of the water between 7.8 and 8.6, adding aquarium chemical additives in order to adjust it if necessary.

    • 2

      Select one male cichlid and between three and six female cichlids. Males require a large number of females around in order to incite spawning. You can determine the gender of your fish by looking at coloring and size. Male bumblebee cichlids are usually larger than the females. They also have more blue colorations, whereas the females display more yellow or gold colorations. Male cichlids also display egg spots, or differently colored patches, on their anal fins. Females have fewer egg spots, if any. Their anal fins are also more rounded than the males'.

    • 3

      Perform a partial water change in the aquarium. This means removing a large portion of water, usually through siphoning, and replacing it with clean water. This water change will instigate the spawning instincts in the cichlids.

    • 4

      Watch the cichlids carefully. When the male is getting ready to spawn, his coloring will darken. He will stake out a special territory, usually in a cave or near a flat rock, where he will bring the females, one at a time. Once he has the female in his territory, he will circle and dance around her. The female will lay the eggs, and then suck them into her mouth, along with the male's sperm. The female will then incubate the eggs in her mouth for 17 to 21 days.

    • 5

      Minimize the stress placed on the female cichlids. Stressed female cichlids will sometimes eat the eggs they are incubating. You can minimize stress by rearranging the rocks in the male's territory so that he cannot see the females, and won't hassle them. You can also move the female to a secluded tank, where she can incubate the eggs, before releasing the baby fish from her mouth.