Triggers to spawning

[fishmaven]

What do YOU do to increase

spawning activity? E.G. water changes, extra feedings, soft lights, candles, mood music...??? I

understand about showers and after shave.<grin> Dan

[Lisachromis]

Really all depends on

what species you're trying to spawn http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif

[DeeCee]

I know that to trigger discus

to spawn, I'll normally stop doing water changes (or just do small ones) for a few weeks --

then I hit them with about a 50% water change, refilling the tank with water a few degrees cooler

than normal. After that, I just turn on the Barry White, turn the lights down low, and give them

some "alone" time......... http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

And yeah, I'm just kidding about the Barry

White. Although there have been times when I've been tempted to try it!

DC

[JustRon]

Cold water changes and live

food.

[fishmaven]

<!--quoteo

(post=1840:date=Jul 29 2006, 07:42 AM:name=DeeCee)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DeeCee

@ Jul 29 2006, 07:42 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1840"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I know that to trigger discus to spawn, I'll

normally stop doing water changes (or just do small ones) for a few weeks -- then I hit them with

about a 50% water change, refilling the tank with water a few degrees cooler than normal. After

that, I just turn on the Barry White, turn the lights down low, and give them some

"alone" time......... http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

And yeah, I'm just kidding about the Barry

White. Although there have been times when I've been tempted to try it!

DC<!--

QuoteEnd--></div>
Do you use RO water? If so, what percentage?

How

do you condition your fish?

I realize that most would think we're joking about the

lights but I've found playing with the light level to BE a trigger. It's used in Florida

fish farm operations too. I always used a nite-light, the additional lights, on a timer, come on

simulating a sunrise, after a water change, provided the female has been properly conditioned,

you'll typically get a spawn.

For music I'd use Chris Botti or a female voice...

Diane Schuur, Amanda McBroom, Eva Cassidy, Jennifer Warnes, Angela Strehli?? My girlfriend would

want Sting. <grin> Dan

[DeeCee]

Sting, eh? Errrr maybe

that's more than I wanted to know, Dan........ http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

No, I don't use R/O water

at all. When I lived in Illinois, I'd often need to use a Peat Bomb in the HOB filter to get

the water conditioned to their liking, but here in MerryLand, it's all good. I admit it, I

also like to give them live CBW as well -- the live foods really seem to trigger the spawning. And

yes, I would normally pretty much leave the tank lights off and just use a small lamp in the room-

and just leave that one on until the fry are seperated from the parents.
And if that fails,

just try Innagoddadavida..........

DC

[bobrfish]

It is not sexy.

Big

water changes once a week, every week. Good quality dry food and when necessary live food.

The only cichlids that will not breed with these conditions are ones that are not given

enough space in the tank.

[Frank T]

just water chages here, and

really only really picky fish ive come across are oscars and piranha.

[fishmaven]

<!--quoteo

(post=1934:date=Aug 1 2006, 07:45 AM:name=Benz_020)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Benz_020

@ Aug 1 2006, 07:45 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1934"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>just water chages here, and really only really

picky fish ive come across are oscars and piranha.</div>
I saw,

in your signature, you're looking for a fem red snook. I was never able to put enough weight on

snooks to get them to do anything. I would think live food the best way to fatten them up, although

the most expensive way. So what do you feed your snook? Have you ever bred them? Dan

[Frank T]

<!--quoteo

(post=1942:date=Aug 1 2006, 12:26 PM:name=fishmaven)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven

@ Aug 1 2006, 12:26 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1942"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I saw, in your signature, you're looking for a

fem red snook. I was never able to put enough weight on snooks to get them to do anything. I would

think live food the best way to fatten them up, although the most expensive way. So what do you

feed your snook? Have you ever bred them? Dan</div>
forgot,

they dont seem to be to easy either.

i dont have any large ones right now, only fry.

someone up here had a orange and a pink pair, had them for a lonnnnng time, was finally

able to get them to breed once, fry turned into wigglers and then the male killed the female, http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif
sorry, no idea what he did or didnt do.
i never

saw any feeders in tn their tank, didnt think to ask.
water was always perfect.
female

had laid eggs before but the male didnt do his job.
ive never seen any fat snook, like bass,

keep eating but never show it.

[fishmaven]

<!--quoteo

(post=1944:date=Aug 1 2006, 11:44 AM:name=Benz_020)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Benz_020

@ Aug 1 2006, 11:44 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1944"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>forgot, they dont seem to be to easy either.

i dont have any large ones right now, only fry.

someone up here had a orange and

a pink pair, had them for a lonnnnng time, was finally able to get them to breed once,
ive

never seen any fat snook, like bass, keep eating but never show it.</div><!--

QuoteEEnd-->

There was a guy in Florida. T. Depiro (sp)? I think that was his name. I

should have kept those TPs, now they're collectors items. He had them regularly in the TP. If

we had a flippin' roster I could tell if he's still around. EkkWill had them on their list

occasionally.

Snook, bass and probably a few others are like cattle, by the time

they're salable, you've got more in them than they're worth. Dan

[Frank T]

<!--quoteo

(post=1947:date=Aug 1 2006, 01:08 PM:name=fishmaven)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven

@ Aug 1 2006, 01:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1947"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Snook, bass and probably a few others are like

cattle, by the time they're salable, you've got more in them than they're worth. Dan<!

--QuoteEnd--></div>


force mine to eat pellets, only 50c a lb.
feeders and africans http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif , only for random treats.





now back to the topic....

[fishmaven]

<!--quoteo

(post=1960:date=Aug 1 2006, 08:15 PM:name=Benz_020)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Benz_020

@ Aug 1 2006, 08:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1960"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>force mine to eat pellets, only 50c a lb.
feeders and africans http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif , only for random treats.
now back to

the topic....</div>
Well, the female has to be fat enough to

lay eggs... so nutrition is one of the triggers. Dan

[Frank T]

<!--quoteo

(post=1965:date=Aug 2 2006, 02:39 AM:name=fishmaven)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(fishmaven

@ Aug 2 2006, 02:39 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1965"><{POST_SNAPBACK}

></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Well, the female has to be fat enough to lay

eggs... so nutrition is one of the triggers. Dan</div>


if the fish are always healthy and fed well
wouldn’t be a trigger,
unless the

fish are scarcely fed to keep down on maintience of the tank.
then the lack of food may keep

her from laying,
and a increase could be considered a "trigger".



i always over feed, more cleaning. but happy fish http://cichlid.ipbhost.com/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif

[nasirjmk]

Can any one help me out in breeding RedHead cichlids they once andbred and had 40 frys but after that the male always beat the Fem and i have to net the male in the same tank when ever i relaase it he beat her again i place several large/ small flower pot and drift wood but the female tend to stay up in open and take the beating fvrom the male can an one help me out with a great idea to make them breed again



It is not sexy.

Big

water changes once a week, every week. Good quality dry food and when necessary live food.

The only cichlids that will not breed with these conditions are ones that are not given

enough space in the tank.

[bobrfish]

It sounds like tank is not large enough for male and female. This CA cichlids come together, bred, raise some fry and then go their seperate ways.
Once they are seperate, their maybe no interest in breeding and fish become competitors for resources. This is one reason why male is harming female. She is a competitor.
Another possible reason is male is ready to spawn and female is not.

To resolve these issues.
1. Get a larger tank and more fish to occupy male so he does not harm female. Give female adequate cover.
2. Remove male and prime female to generate eggs. When it appears female is plump with eggs, stop feeding her and male for a few days. Perform a massive water change, add back cooler water with male. Watch pair closely and if male is harming female, remove him again.