African Ciclids Breeding

[jackson150]

Hi, I have a 150 gallon tank with about 400 lbs of rock. My africans ciclids breed continuously. I have tried to remove the females - but apparently they have to ability to morph from male to female.

Right now I have about 50 babies all under 1 inch. When I remove them more will come.

Are there any fish that I can add that will eat the babies? Or is there a way to guarantee that I can permanently remove all the females?

To remove the babies I have to remove all the rock which is too much work to do on a routine basis.

Most of my ciclids are 4" to 6" inches long. I also have two clown loaches each about 4" and one pleco that is about 10".

 

[Mercury]

Your cichlids aren't eating the fry of other cichlids/ their own after a while? Maybe the fry are just able to get away, and you could remove possible cover.

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I would assume the other africans would eat them, they arn't? How many fish are in the tank? Are they Mbuna? Peacocks? Haps?

Some of the bigger African Haps might take the job.

 

[jackson150]

The tank is a mix of haps, zebras and peacocks. Most of the ciclids are 5+ inches. No they are not eating the fry. The larger ciclids do not even bother the fry. There are approimately 15 to 17 larger ciclids and right now about 50 babies.

 

[Mercury]

I wonder if lowering temperature will discourage breeding?

 

[SinisterKisses]

There's probably too much rock in the tank for the bigger fish to be able to get all the fry. Too many small spaces for the babies to hide that the adults can't get them. There are some fish that are better at keeping fry populations down than others - venustus for example, or some of the bigger haps like fuscos and such.

 

[jackson150]

I was thinking about adding a Compressiceps to eat the babies.

 

[SinisterKisses]

Depends on which comp. you were referring to. D. compressiceps would be just fine, A. compressiceps would be a big no way.

 

[jackson150]

Yes - I just bought a 4 to 5 inch D. compressiceps........hopefully he will do the trick

 

[SinisterKisses]

Nice fish, I think they're neat looking. Post some pics of him

 

[Cichlid-Man]

I agree would be nice to see.