How to Crossbreed African Cichlids

Part of a genus of several hundred varieties, the cichlid proves interesting to aquarium hobbyists. From edible tilapia to unusually colored oscars for your fish tank, knowing about the different types of cichlids gives you the ability to crossbreed them. Crossbreeding African cichlids is an easy task if you can provide the proper environmental factors for the fish. The end result is a variety of cichlid hybrid types that look beautiful in a large aquarium for display and entertainment.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium
  • Submersible heater
  • Fish cave
  • Assorted flora
  • Aquarium gravel
  • Red devil cichlid (male)
  • Jack Dempsey cichlid (female)
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Instructions

    • 1

      Add about a pound of aquarium gravel to one side of the established cichlid tank.

    • 2

      Place a submersible aquarium heater near the mound of gravel. This will warm the water to a temperature desirable to spawning. If you already have a heater, increase the wattage to make the water 82 to 86 degrees on one side of the tank.

    • 3

      Place a fish cave or a rock formation near the mound of gravel. Cichlids like to hide, especially when breeding or caring for their fry.

    • 4

      Surround the entire warm side of the tank with plastic and live aquatic flora. Use tall grass-like pieces to simulate the African cichlid's natural breeding areas.

    • 5

      Introduce the two African cichlids to the tank. Crossbreeding a red devil and a Jack Dempsey creates a flowerhorn parrot cichlid. Although the practice of crossbreeding cichlids is a controversial topic in the fish hobbyist community, it results in attractive and interesting additions to your aquarium.

    • 6

      Allow the two African cichlids time to acclimate to each other. It is best to introduce them to the tank when they are juveniles. This gives them time to get accustomed to their future mates before they breed. Observe the two fish to see if they display the signs of coming to spawn. These signs include facing off with their lips locked in a sort of "kiss," as well as digging through the mound of gravel--their version of nesting. The water temperature on the warm side of the tank induces the breeding process.

    • 7

      Remove any other cichlids from the tank, putting them in a separate aquarium. The parent cichlids become highly aggressive and territorial while protecting their eggs. they normally lay eggs in the gravel burrows they dig out during the mating process.

    • 8

      Switch to small-grain fish food so the fry can eat during the first month after hatching. The entire process can take up to two months from breeding to hatching. It is quite hard to pinpoint the exact moment of breeding as cichlids are very secretive and tend to hide. Without the proper hiding areas or gravel, the fish will not breed often, if at all.