Hemichromis Lifalili "Red Jewel" Cichlid breeding pair with Fry

[GELALDING]

hi.

i have a 20 gal .

i wanted to buy a couple of jewels, wishing i could breed them later once they've grown.

I dont wish to stress my fish, i don't know if my tank size is ok. i read on a forum that 20 gal is fine for a couple but im not quite sure.

is it possible to tell males from females at young age? (petstore) i wanted to ask you first, since you are experienced.

[narnyslip]

How do you tell female from male??? color?

[beachtans]

@narnyslip : the female is usually smaller and the male is a brighter red, especially when spawning. It is hard to tell m vs f other than that. They both can take care of their fry.

[beachtans]

Its hard to tell M or F, but females are usually a bit smaller and the male will get redder especially when spawning - my female was a bit "browner" around the belly area. They will pair off if you buy 4-6 small ones but you may have to remove all but the pair to avoid them killing the others. My pair had a love-hate relationship: I had to separate them several times when their fighting got real bad. but as soon as I put them back together, they'd spawn.

[cichlidsrock]

@beachtans thanks

[cichlidsrock]

how can you tell if there male and female

[BrownDarter]

Pretty fish . From what I read the Lifalili are the most red of the jewels?

I am thinking of a single pair as only fish for a 40 gallon but might be to small because only 36 inches long . Same dimensions as 30 long but higher.

Not sure if good idea as read male can kill female.

[beachtans]

@BrownDarter : that tank should be fine!! 36" is good for just those two fish! : ) I would put some decent sized drift wood in there and some plastic plants so they cant see each other at all times. And yes, these should be the most red. Especially when breeding. They are so fun to watch when they are caring for their fry! Feed them some frozen brine every day and you'll have babies before you know it!!

[BrownDarter]

@beachtans Great the tank has lots driftwood and adding java fern to the wood . Waiting till it takes (holds on to wood) before adding a pair of Hemichromis Lifalili.

What temp did yours breed at ? Thanks

[beachtans]

@BrownDarter : Nice! That should be great!! I dont think you need to wait for the plants to take hold - mine didnt pick at the plants at all - get those fish in there already!! : ) I had my tank about 77 degrees, but I hear 80 degrees is better.

[chevq]

dang, those are big jewels...

[beachtans]

Usually they will spawn every 30 days,but since you moved them, it may take a few months for them to settle into their new tank. Depends on your fish.

[mandvia76]

Hi,

Dear can you know that when red jewel spawing after first, I mean my jewel give fry on 1st of may and other fishes eaten they fry now I transfer jewel pair in seprate tank so after how much time they breed and spawning eggs.

Thanks

[beachtans]

@mandvia76 To condition them to spawn as quickly as possible, feed them meaty foods like frozen brine shrimp or ask your LFS what they have for them. Keep the water warm around 78 and do your water changes at LEAST once a week(sometimes adding cooler treated water will induce spawning) And remember, once you get fry, remove them after about 2 weeks because the parents may eat them when they get ready to lay eggs again... Good luck!

[mandvia76]

@beachtans Hi,

Thanks for your reply dear kinldy know me that boiled Eggs yolk good for red jewel babies becuase brine shrimp quite expensive in my country or crumbled/crashed pellets can I feed them.

[TheMrfish87]

What size tank ? Do you think i could do a pair in a 20 gallon?

[beachtans]

You could easily breed a pair in a 20gal. When they start to turn bright red, they are going into "breeding mode". Its good to feed them twice a day :frozen brine shrimp once a day, and flake food the other feeding. THis will condition them so the female can produce the eggs. provide them with an upside down flowerpot with a piece knocked out for the door. make sure you do your 25% waterchanges EVERY week, clean water helps!!

[ryan0625]

I bought 3 red jewel from fish store few days ago. When I brought them home and they changed their color from bright red to gray and just don't change to red color anymore. Can someone tells me why? Cause it really bothers me. When I saw them at fish store they were so bright red though.

[beachtans]

Theres a lot you can do. first of all, what size tank are they in, and are they with any other fish?

[ryan0625]

They are in my 20 gallon fish thank. I have one old red jewel cichlid, 2 frontonsa, 3 black convit cichlid, and 3 red jewel that I just bought.

[beachtans]

Uh oh. This might not work. Frontosas are "gentle giants" and will be stressed by the convicts and jewels fighting. Then the convicts and jewels are both SUPER feisty and will fight bad. I like convicts too, but most people dont and they are hard to get rid of - my petstore wont even take them. I would turn the convicts in cuz you can easily find them again later if you decide you miss them.

[beachtans]

My jewels went gray for a while too . I think yours may be having trouble cuz the convicts were already settled in there first. Move all the decorations around right away so they all have to find new spots to guard. This may help. Have you considered getting a second 20gal? let me know and we can go from there depending on your answer. : ) Fish are fun!!

[metcalfe87]

Cool video, Dude... How often do you get fry?

[beachtans]

Every 30 days or less  : )

[metcalfe87]

Really?  is that the same two breeding everytime? man i cant wait for my cichlids to start doing that how old/big are they when they start??

[beachtans]

Yes. I started with 4 and they killed the other two til I was left with the pair. Thats usually how you know they are breeding age. Mine were about 1.5-2". My pair appeared to fight like crazy and I was worried I had two males but days after their fighting started, I saw a swarm of tiny fry! The parents look like they are eating the fry, but they just suck them up and spit them back into the main swarm. Its so cool!! Just watch for the pair to form and for them to turn red ...

[beachtans]

eat crushed flake food well too. you may have to mix it with water and use an eyedropper to squirt it near the babies . if there is algae, dont worry about it. it may look like they are eating the fry but if u watch closely u should see them spit them back in the group. I love to talk fish - any more questions??

[lunesgosk8]

will they eat their fry? do you have to separate parents from fry? let me know what is the deal, eggs in my tank just hached. I need some advice quick! thanks

[beachtans]

What size tank u got? bigger tank with less other fish = more jewel fry will live.

Generally you should remove the fry from parents before they start spawning again about 4 weeks after hatching. But you can try to remove them earlier. I moved some after two weeks - caught them with a turkey baster so they werent exposed to air and put them in a 10gal at 80degrees. They eat algae off stuff so if you have a rock or something covered with green, put that in with them. they also will

[ESiccness]

fuccin nice.yure tank is simple but looks good =]

how big are your jewels ?

[beachtans]

Female is 2.5" and male is 3.25"

[beachtans]

Anyone know what he's doing 35-50 seconds into the video??!!

[tcfuturevet]

Alot cichlids do this with fry. And, for example, convicts will flick they bodies as a warning signal. so he is probably letting the momma and babies that something is coming towards them and that is when (in the wild) the fry would dart for cover.

[caiocrz]

my jewel does that too,must be normal