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Q- I need some good suggestions on inducing breeding among my Tang shell dwelling Cichlids.
A- I have had African Cichlids for years. First of all you must be sure that there is at least one male in your group. That part is obvious, but if occelatus are anything like my meleagris (pearly occelatus), my guys spawned as soon as I had an excess of males. Coincidence maybe, but that's how it worked for me. They also have to be at least one year old.
A- I know next to nothing about the other lakes, but I do know that Tanganyikan waters are still and stay at the same temp pretty much year around. They DO NOT like frequent water changes or temp fluctuations, and mine particularly hate when the new water is colder, but prefer it to be the same or warmer. I have read that you can kill shell dwellers (article in Cichlid Room Companion) by putting in new water that is too cool and warmer is preferable if you can't get it perfect. Also change the diet of your fish. Use some freeze dry food. Or live is even better. Mine spawned on flakes, cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworms and brine shrimp, and live brine and the occasional chopped up earthworm. I am sure freeze-dried will give them desired variety though and that is always good.
I am sure you have plenty of shells? If everyone has a shell with some left over they should be happy. I had a shell hog and had to put in 12 shells before all 3 of my guys could have a shell. Ideally though 2 shells per fish should suffice. My spawning was pretty much accidental so I am unsure of what did it for them.
My pH is 8.6 water hard (300ppm), temp 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I do water changes, 10% every 2 weeks, no more than 20% every three weeks when I have particularly nasty sand vacuuming to do that I know will take awhile. I had no warning mine had spawned...2 males were hanging out with the female, then they left her alone, then there were fry, go figure :-) They had spawned right after one of the 20% water changes after going 3 weeks without one. They were also over a year old, yours may be younger than you think. Are you sure the other fish are not posing a possible threat to fry? Theycould be spawning and eating the eggs if they think they won't live. HTH and good luck! I also like Aquarian Fry Food. Its put out by Mardel. My guys seem to REALLY like this stuff as well as momma.
Our Views
We are currently breeding Neolamprologus brichardi Albino and Neolamprologus brichardi Kigoma. They are great parents. The parents do form a strong bond and once they begin mating they continue unabated. Our male and female pairs are in a 20 gallon tank per pair and each have a conch shell about 4-5 inches in length. Once they breed and the babies begin to get out and swim around you can move the parents. I find moving the parents to be much easier and quicker than moving babies. Normally the pairs will hover around their shell, so when I insert my hand they enter it. I just lift the shell w/parents out, and place the shell and parents into another tank that has been prepared for them.
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