My cichlids had BABIES!!!

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K

Kodatech

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Jan 12, 2007
34
0
0
roanoke, va
Hey, just thought I would let everyone know, since I am excited, my bumblebee cichlids had fry. I have a 55gal tank with 4 malawi (random fish store special) and 2 bumblebee cichlids.

Saturday I fed them, and 4 tiny (and obviously bumblebee) cichlids emerged from the rocks to eat. I quickly set up a 5 gal tank using water from the 55 gallon. I was able to transport 3 of them. I am not sure what happened to the fourth one. Probably got eaten.

I wasnt planning on breeding them, but I want the fry to do well so I can put them all in the 55gal when they are big enough. They are eating and seem healthy.

Anything I should watch for? Anything I could do to help them grow faster? Thanks in advance. :headbang2
 
what size would you say they would be safe? The "father" of the fry is very agressive and about 4.5 inches long.

Another strange thing, I got all the cichlids at the same time, they were all about the same size. The bumblebees were the same color. The male is almost completely black now, and WAY bigger than all the others in the tank.
 
I usually leave mine in their own tank for about 3 months, and with water changes, pleny of food, like Mike said they grow quickly...

I always have 1 or 2 extreme runts who still aren't ready even after 3 months...it just depends on those genetics.

CONGRATS though...
 
Kodatech;1935240; said:
Another strange thing, I got all the cichlids at the same time, they were all about the same size. The bumblebees were the same color. The male is almost completely black now, and WAY bigger than all the others in the tank.
Click to expand...

most of the time the males will turn almost all black like that, and can reach around 8" or so if in the right sized tank. also a very aggressive fish like you said, i would watch him as he gets bigger. i had to get rid of mine at around 7" cause he was terrorizing my whole stock. good luck on the kiddos though.
 
Water changes and good food will make um grow.
 
Kodatech;1935240; said:
what size would you say they would be safe? The "father" of the fry is very agressive and about 4.5 inches long.

Another strange thing, I got all the cichlids at the same time, they were all about the same size. The bumblebees were the same color. The male is almost completely black now, and WAY bigger than all the others in the tank.
Click to expand...

That's normal.. the male (at least usually) turns black. It happened to me when I had them. Kind of a bummer, as I liked the bumblebee color better.
Purely my opinion, but I put bumblebees at the medium level of mbuna aggression. They are not crazed killers but they do stir the pot a bit. I don't think mine actually hurt any other fish though.

Congratulations on being a grandparent. :)
 
feed them and clean them. that's all you need to do.
 
Muske;1939553; said:
Water changes and good food will make um grow.
Click to expand...

I do the same thing with my 10 week old. Oh, wait, that's diaper changes and good food!?!?

NM
 
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