Breeding African Jewels

A few weeks ago i decided to move away from the typical community tank setup, and focus on keeping larger fish that will hopefully produce offspring - it's the ultimate of fishkeeping, especially watching cichlids look after their young.

So off I went to the LFS here in Centurion (Exclusive Pets) and got 2 x Firemouths, 2 x Convicts and 2 x African jewels. I chose the Firemouths and African Jewels for their colour - they appear really awesome under my tanks light. I know from experience that convicts breed like mad - so my idea was to keep them in the tank, letting their young be "live food" for the other cichlids.

When shopping again at another LFS here in Centurion (Pets and Plants), I got a 25cm Hifin Pengasius for R110, as well as an African Knife fish and 10cm Synodontis cat... I figured they'll make nice mates for the cichlids...

Last Monday morning I awoke to the lovely sight of babies - I was so excited... My African Jewels had spawned and I didn't even know it - there weren't the usual signs of aggression or demarcated territory. The male AJ was missing - I figured the female probably chased him away from her and the new babies...

A couple of days later I noticed the two convicts were also missing. It was strange. While feeding the fish (earthworms was on the menu that day) I noticed the Hifin Pengasius wasn't interested, but his belly was big - very big! My only conslusion is that he had the AJ male and the two convicts for lunch.

I was very upset that the AJ was gone, as I was already busy setting up a 3ft tank for the AJ's to breed. After reading up on the AJ's, I read they're on the blacklist and figured it's probably meant to be that "daddy was eaten" - I'd hate to sit with hundreds of fish that I can't do anything with...

So I decided to leave the babies in the main tank and mom's still looking after them very well. There's about 30 or so left, which will probably get even less as the weeks go by, but it's fine. I've gotten two pairs of Kribensis and hope to get those breeding (Looking to get Rams and Keyholes soon).

 

Chas your Pangasius will eat everything that can fit into his mouth, so don't get too attached to any fish sharing the tank with him that fits this description. And they grow HUGE. I wouldn't recommend adding Rams etc unless they are in a separate tank. How big is the tank you have the Pangasius in at the moment?

Also you may want to remove that link you've posted....no posting of other petshops details/site etc unless they are sponsors on the site

 

Luckily I get along well with the LFS owner where I bought the Hifin Pengasius, so he agreed to let me take it back and get other fish instead. I swapped him for the Kribs and a few Gouramis.

My main tank is a 4foot on a home made cabinet. I also have a 3ft as well as a 1.5ft waiting for baby fish...

PS: I've removed the link - thanks for letting me know!

 

Wow it seems as though there is yet another member suffering from MTS here My Kribs are breeding like rabbits at the moment. Rams are taking awhile to get it together though, they keep on laying eggs and then eating them. All three pairs! So I'm hoping they will 'get their act together' soon

 

Lol! Yip - a true aquarist has MTS! I soooo badly want a "fishroom" - or even better, my own petshop, lol!

I can't wait for my kribs to start spawning. It's a bit difficult with the African Jewel still guarding her babies - especially when whe moves them around the tank.

 

I've heard of Krib parents taking on fish MUCH larger than themselves to protect their young, so you never know Although I'm sure the AJ mommy will be one up on the Krib should they have to both be placed in a position of defending their young.

Our granny flat, which was still in the process of being completed, is no longer a granny flat........I think the fish tanks have started breeding in there

 

I'm trying to decide if I should remove the week old AJ babies or not - I'm scared the mom stays aggressive. The kribs do seem a bit scared of the AJ mom at the moment...

It's now granny fish flat... lol!

 

Why not move the one pair of Kribs into the 1.5ft for the moment and let them carry on there so long? The tanks are cheap enough to get should you require another one later on (and it's always a good excuse to purchase yet ANOTHER tank to fuel our addiction )

 

You're sneaky - It's good! That's a good idea... I'm going fishing tonight - for Kribs, lol! Gosh, space is the only problem - have a small 2 bedroom townhouse...

 

ME?????? Never!!!!

 

Lol! :blink1:

 

Now that the Afircan Jewels aren't on the blacklist, I thought it a good idea to tell you all that my baby AJ's are starting to develop a color. They're turning bright green. I tried taking pics but my cam isn't really up to it

 

the black list is STILL law..... JZ hasnt signed it.... i believe the Dep of Agri has some crackdown team doing petshop vists at random atm

 

Oh gosh...

Good thing the Dep of Agri will be doing visits

Sign JZ, please sign quick...:blink1: