How to Care for Texas Cichlid Eggs

The Texas cichlid is the only species of cichlid native to the United States. These fish are popular in the aquarium hobby and are relatively easy to breed if you are able to find a compatible pair. Matching a pair of Texas cichlids can be a tricky process, but if you are able to do it successfully you may be rewarded with a healthy clutch of eggs. While adult cichlids will guard their eggs, there are a few things you can do to increase the chances of the eggs hatching and the fry being raised to maturity.

  1. Preparing the Breeding Tank

    • Caring for cichlid eggs begins long before the eggs are even spawned. In order to encourage your Texas cichlids to spawn you need to create the proper environment. Place a large, flat stone in the tank for the female cichlid to use as a spawning site. If the female approves of the spawning site, she will clean it thoroughly prior to depositing any eggs on it. The bottom of the breeding tank should be at least partially lined with substrate, because once the eggs have hatched, your cichlids will move the fry into a pit they have excavated in the substrate.

    Preventing Fungus

    • If you choose to keep your adult Texas cichlids in the tank with their eggs, they will likely fan the eggs with their fins to prevent fungus from growing on them. Even if you do leave the parents in the tank, it is wise to treat the water with methylene blue. Methylene blue is a chemical compound often utilized by aquarium hobbyists to treat fungal infections. You can use it to prevent fungus growth on fish eggs, especially when the eggs are being raised artificially in the absence of the parent fish.

    Aerating the Eggs

    • While part of the reason adult Texas cichlids fan their eggs is to prevent fungus growth, aeration can also affect the growth of the fry within the eggs. If you plan to raise your Texas cichlid eggs artificially, it is wise to move the spawning stone into a 1-gallon container with a slow airstone. If you prefer to keep the parents in the tank with their eggs, the water flow facilitated by an undergravel filter or a slow airstone positioned near the spawning stone should be sufficient.

    Hatching the Eggs

    • Texas cichlid eggs typically hatch within two or three days of spawning. Although the female may lay hundreds or even thousands of eggs, not all of them are likely to hatch. If you leave the parent fish in the tank with the eggs, they may pick through the eggs occasionally, removing dead eggs from the group. Immediately upon hatching, the parent fish will move the fry to the pit they excavated from the substrate, where the fry will feed on their yolk sac for another three to four days. After this period, the fry will become free swimmers and you can feed them small live foods like infusoria and artemia.