they just won't breed

[Ross Quarles]

I have a 55 gallon tank with 3 male cyntilapia afra and 2 females(one of the females hasn't grown any and I don't think she could breed). It also has 5 yellow labs. 2 males and 3 females I think. 2 of the females I just got and they just hide at the top. My water has a ph of 7-7.5 with no ammonia or nitrite. It has lots of rock and african gravel mix. The afras breed once a couple months back but haven't since. I think the reason they're not breeding is the male to female ratio is wrong. Do you think I'm right? My water seems fine and I perform a 20% change weekly. I am almost ready to sell them and start over. Please help me with ANY suggestions you have.

[Ross Quarles]

My yellow labs are about 4 inches and my afras are from 2-4 inches. ANY ONE PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!! 8)

[Rudy]

I tend to agree with you. You should have 1 male to three females. They may breed with less, but it gets a bit cuthroat if there is not enough females in there.

I would also suggest you do larger water changes. This almost always helps. Everything else seems o.k. to me.

Don't give up. :wink:

[Ross Quarles]

When I add new afras I know I should rearange the tank, but the males have the same territories. Should I add a bunch at one time?

[Rudy]

What I do is turn all the lights off the day I am getting new fish. rearrange the tank when you put in the new fish while leaving the lights off. Wait a couple hours to let them get settled and you should be golden. :D

[Guard Bum]

For what it's worth, I found temperature had a significant effect on breeding. I had a cold spell and the temp dropped from 79 to about 74 for a few days and the fish went crazy. I have a yellow lab and a super red kimpuna holding now and a couple dozen rusty frye in a holding tank. I understand water temp changes have similar effects in the wild. Good luck. :)

[bluoval1]

I have a 125 gallon and have about6 diff kinds of Mbuna. I have found that they breed when 1) barometric pressure changes ie rain, snow, etc., 2) LARGE water changes ie 50% or better, 3) water changeswhere water temp is about 3-5 degrees cooler than normal tank temp and 4) fresh veggies they like that have been blanched. I give mine blanched lettuce, zuchini, and spinach. Try to keep the M-F ratio about 1:3 if you want to really increase your chances as well. O yeah, once they breed they will likely keep going. Next thing ya know you have a tank full of fry. Make sure you provide plenty of caves and rock formations. This is especially imp. for Mbuna. Good Luck.

[fOx]

If all else fails do a big 30-40 per cent water change... no joke. Fish in the wild breed based on season and water patterns. There are a number of resources and books on breeding that point to the rainy spring season as being a key breeding period. Something about low water levels during the winter being replaced with a lot of clean fresh water. Either from the rain or from massive water changes caused by rivers flooding and flushing out the lakes. (This may also have something to do with temperature changes, as has already been mentioned)

The last time I tried this I ended with a whole whack of Kennyi and Lombardoi fry and a few angry fathers who were all beating up on one another to protect their babies....

Good luck.

fOx