breeding peacocks

[lilroc320]

My peakcocks were spawning one day and the next day the female was dead. Is that something typical for the male to kill the female during spawning? I have posted a picture of the male peacock.

[neesejohn]

No. This is not common. Pam Chin knows a lot about these guys. Look her up in the member directory.

John

[bobrfish]

It may not be common but often males kill females if tank is not set up correctly and care is not taken to monitor tank.

Males want to spawn all the time, with exception of when eating or if another fish is chasing him, then his spawning interest drops off a notch.
However, females only want to spawn when their eggs are ripe. This creates a problem between males and females.

If the tank decor does not offer protection for females that are not ready to spawn, the male will kill her with his attempts to bring her to spawning site.

Protection for females can consist of multiple females to spread the male pressure, hiding areas, other fish to distract male, other fish that male must be concerned for his own harm, very large tanks that allow some escape and of course only bringing conditioned females (with eggs) eager to spawn.

Mouthbrooders generally go their own way post spawning but a male that wants to spawn will continue to harass a female holding eggs if tank is not spacious. Again, female needs protection from this harassment.

Egg laying cichlids may play at love and kisses during spawning and just after eggs hatch. However as fry begin to swim, either male or female may suddenly determine the other parent is an unwanted parent and kill it. This is a tank artifact but a fact that keepers need to be on alert for.
Try to provide protection or at a minimum monitor tank daily to determine exactly what the interaction is between male and females.

[Patrick Kelly]

I agree with everything that Bob mentioned above.
The other thing I do is if its a Peacock that I have limited females for I will pull the female out a few hours after spawning and put her in a 2 1/2 gallon tank with a sponge filter, a flower pot and a little java moss. These make her feel protected in my opinion.

I also will leave her with the fry for just a couple days after they are released. She needs to recoup after the ordeal. You do need to watch closely though. Some mayhold the fry to full term, only to catch them and kill them after release.

Good luck on your breeding.

[lilroc320]

THANKS SO MUCH BOB