How to Breed a Super Red Empress Cichlid

The Super Red Empress, the protomelas taeniolatus, is a variation of Red Empress cichlid bred specifically to have bright red coloration on its body. Also known as the Spindle Hap, this tropical freshwater fish is favored by aquarium hobbyists for its beauty and easy care. In addition, with proper tank size, hiding places, water conditions and adequate male-to-female ratio, the Super Red Empress is easy to breed in captivity.

  1. Tank Size

    • Super Red Empress cichlids are agile swimmers that enjoy exploring their environments. In addition, they may grow to 6 inches (15.2 cm) or longer. Because of their activity level and size, these fish thrive and are more likely to reproduce in tanks with plenty of space. A tank for Super Red Empress cichlids should hold at least 75 gallons (284 l) of water. However, an aquarium hobbyist who plans to keep more than one male Super Red Empress should invest in a 200-gallon (757 l) tank because multiple males will become aggressive in small spaces.

    Hiding Places

    • Female Super Red Empress cichlids are less stressed and more likely to breed with hiding places in their environments. Having areas to hide also helps to prevent male cichlids from acting aggressively toward the females. Large rocks and aquarium-approved tank decorations are ideal items for the females to hide in and around during mating. Shells and live plants can alter the pH balance of the water that encourages reproduction and are therefore best avoided.

    Water Condition

    • Super Red Empress are more likely to reproduce in ideal water conditions. A pH balance between 7.0 and 8.5 and water temperature around 75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 26 degrees Celsius) encourage mating. Though cichlids thrive on a wide variety of fish food, overfeeding can result in uneaten particles that can negatively alter the pH balance of the tank.

    Breeding Group

    • The ideal female-to-male ratio for breeding Super Red Empress cichlids is three females to one male. The male will most likely breed with each of the females and stop any territorial behavior once mating has occurred. Each bred female will then carry her eggs in her mouth, called brooding, until they hatch after about four weeks. Too many males in the tank can result in aggression and stress, which can interrupt this delicate breeding and hatching process.