Experienced Michigan Breeder Here...

[peacefulfields]

Hey all,

I choose this forum because I myself administer a phpBB forum... I think this format is the easiest & the best to read and navigate. My growing website (unrelated) is http://www.peacefulfields.com/forum (Please remove this link if this is breaking any rules)

I have been breeding African Cichlids for about 6 years now. My favorites are Frontosa, Compresicepts, Red Zebra, White Zebra, Vestemus and Hap, Ali or Copadichromis Azureus. Sorry if I spelled those wrong... These fish need easier Americanized names. Anyway I'm currently breeding only Copadichromis Azureus FlameTop. I was told that these were called Hapachromis ALI FlameTop. (I think) Flametop means that there is a touch of yellow on the top of the males head. Yet it it has a white fin top which was suppost to be yellow??? I hope to post a few photos here soon..

I have a 55gal with just 1 penguin 330 overhead filter. I had 2 wild caught & shipped males (now 1 Male) & 3 Females & a Large 8 year old Pleco. My baby tank is a 20gal long with a powerhead sponge carbon filter. I have almost 40 baby's in the 20 that are about 1 month old. I have had very bad luck keeping allot them alive in the past without murders. I think its because I need a 75gal or better and more territories for other Aggressive males.. I have bread every fish listed and have none of the others left. If I don't sell them by the juvenile stage the males end up killing each other (which are cool battles to watch) until their dead... I live in West Michigan and I'm just curious what other breeders do? Or if anyone here is a Michigander and is interested in breeding?

[peacefulfields]

Here are some Photos of my Fish & Tanks....
Male



Female


Babys


Tanks 55 & 20

[CichlidLover]

Hello there,

That's one beautiful fish! I've also been raising and breeding Malawi cichlids for the past several years. Currently, I have a tank full of electric blue mbunas. Prior to that, I was breeding Copadichromis Borleyi. I started out with one female and four male electric blues in April of 2009, and now I have several dozen of them in a four-foot tank. At the time I purchased them, they were too young to sex, so I am happy that I got at least one female in the bunch. Now, with "Mama Mbuna" spawning for the eleventh time yesterday, I have more than enough males and females in the tank, although there are significantly more males than females.

Suggestion #1: If your tank is four feet long -- as I suspect it is -- I suggest that you add a second Penguin 330 Bio-Wheel filter to the right side as well. That is how I have my tank set up. Your fish will appreciate the extra filtration and the added water movement.

Suggestion #2: You might want to consider creating more cave-work. Your fish will love you for it!

Suggestion #3: SAND! Especially white sand. I have about two inches of white sand for my substrate which I got from our back yard. Your males will enjoy moving it around and digging out their mating pits. I don't use any gravel or pebbles for substrate. It is just rock caves and sand.

I hope the above helps.