Electric Blue African Cichlids & How They Mate

The electric blue African cichlid is a brightly colored, striped member of the Cichlidae family with a bullet-shaped body and a maximum size of eight inches. Like most other cichlids, the electric blue is a carnivore and is an aggressive tankmate that only cohabitates well with its own species and other cichlids from Lake Malawi in Africa. Breeding cichlids presents challenges that usual tropical fish breeding does not demand.

  1. Habitat

    • The electric blue African cichlid prefers a warmer habitat with temperatures ranging between 76 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. This cichlid prefers a water pH between 7.8 and 8.6 and needs a habitat of at least 70 gallons in order to accommodate its size and prevent territorial behavior. Ample rockwork is an integral part of a successful African cichlid setup, as it will provide the cichlids places to hide and protect themselves from one another.

    Feeding

    • Electric blue African cichlids are attracted to a number of different foods, especially during the mating process. Provide them with meaty foods like bloodworms, small fish and brine shrimp. To boost overall health in the tank, consider adding spirulina flakes as well.

    Mating

    • The ideal group for breeding electric blue cichlids is a harem of between five and seven females to a single male. The primary reason behind this is because a single female will cause aggression in the male, and he is likely to pick on the single female rather than breed with her. By supplying a single male with several females, you create a more positive environment for the male, reducing aggression risks and upping the chance of a successful breeding.

    Brooding

    • The electric blue African cichlid is known as a specialized mouth brooder, and the female is responsible for carrying the eggs. The male initiates the process by digging a hole in the substrate for the female, who lays the eggs inside in the hole. The female then scoops the eggs into her mouth. The male fertilizes the eggs directly in the female's mouth, where they remain until she chooses to release them. The fry are released within a period of 12 to 18 days and they measure approximately one inch. Most cichlid members in this group are relatively easy to breed in a home or hobby aquarium when the right conditions are met.

    Separation

    • To give the eggs the best chance of surviving, move each female into her own space while she is raising her young in her mouth. This way there will be no chance of other fish eating her young when she releases them after development. It is also beneficial to provide each breeding area with plenty of rocks, coves and caves so that both adult and baby fish have adequate hiding spaces.