Cynotilapia afra likoma socal

[freddd]

I am breeding a pair of wild caught afras and my first spawn was just 7 babies, i have been trying to make them breed for some time now. I have the male and female in a 60 gallon tank with plenty of rockwork and i blocked off one side of the tank with black poster board so i couldnt see what was happening in that side of the tank and sure enough it was privacy they wanted even if it was only them in a 60 gall. After blocking off the side one day my female wouldnt eat so i guessed she was holding or had bloat, 3 weeks later i saw a tiny baby swimmin around and i caught my male and put him in his own 20 gall.

The problem is out of the 7 babies, 6 of them are about one inch and starting to show color but only one looks like he was just born still. How can he be so small, he eats everyday with his brothers and sisters most of the time the first to the food but he looks like he just finished his egg sac. if anyone knows what is goin on here please let me know

thanks fred:rock:

[Heyguy74]

There will always be a runt in the litter. Thats nature. Nothing you can do about it. If the fish doesnt grow much in the next month or so, I would cull the fish. It could have a genetic deformaty, you dont want passed on the future generations.

[why_spyder]

Got any photos of your Likoma's? I always enjoy seeing other people's Cynotilapia. :D

[freddd]

i will try and get some pics up, im thinking its a deformed baby but i cant kill it i will prob just keep him in his own 10 gal and he will be my super dwarf redtop smallest in the world. my wild male has got a case of bloat i think from eating his babies. :( i have been doing routine saltwater dips and he slowly seems to be getting better, still has alot of spunk and color. on the other hand my female is insane with color. when i first got the two they were put in the same tank and as soon as i took the male out for the first time my female really started to color up. i have a pic of the mom and dad in full color although my male in the pic is bloated :( i have never seen another female with such nice color, and also is there anyone else around socal doing cichlid breeding?