How to Tell When a Cichlid Is Going to Have Baby Fish

Cichlids are a diverse group of fish popular with aquarium owners for their exotic color and low maintenance requirements. They often mate and produce offspring in captivity, so watch for behavioral changes and other signs of brooding behavior if you keep opposite-sex pairs.

  1. Just Right

    • The chances of your cichlids' having babies are directly connected to the environment inside the tank. Whether you want them to mate or wish to avoid that scenario, it's important to know the ideal breeding conditions of each species. The severum (Heros efasciatus) and the festivum (Mesonauta sp.) can live happily in most freshwater tanks, but most will produce eggs only in soft and acidic water, according to FishChannel.com. Each species has its own preferences regarding water quality, so consult a local aquarium expert or reputable guide for information about your particular fish.

    Swim and Dance

    • The first sign of mating comes from the male fish. He will chase the females around the tank and attempt to win their affection with a lively dance. The courting ritual is a spectacle for observers, as the male shakes himself into a full-bodied spasm. Some even perform a mouth-to-mouth "kiss" as part of their mating dance. A female may follow the male back to a secluded area to commence the mating process, or deem him unworthy and ignore his efforts entirely. The male usually drives uninterested females away if his dance fails. Females carry eggs without any signs of bloating in the abdomen.

    A Full Mouth

    • Some cichlids, like the redhump (Geophagus steindachneri), are mouth-brooders. After a successful mating dance, the pair retreats to a sheltered spot in the tank behind rocks and vegetation. She drops eggs to the bottom and then picks them up in her mouth. The male fertilizes the eggs throughout the process, and the pair continues until the female has had enough. She discards eggs that aren't properly fertilized, while holding the healthy ones in her mouth for up to five weeks until they hatch, according to All Cichlids.

    Eggs All Over

    • The green chromid (Etroplus suratensis) and many other species are open-brooders, so they dig tiny pits in the substrate before laying their legs. Other cichlids are called cave-brooders, because they hide their babies around rocks and other natural formations. These groups of fish are more aggressive after mating, because their undeveloped offspring are exposed to the other occupants of the tank. Open-brooders often care for their eggs and newly hatched young as a pair. In these cases the male takes the offensive against would-be predators and the female flaps her tail around the eggs to provide more oxygen, according to Cichlid Fish Center. These cichlids tend to forgo meals as they guard the babies, so they may consume some of the eggs to ward off starvation.