Breeding Red devils

[unforgiven118]

Ok, new question, I want to breed my red devil.

need some advice on:
minimum tank size
mate selection
making them not kill each other
keeping them together
whatever else seems appropriate.

she was wild and has never been kept with another fish aside from plecos she hasn't killed.

[Rex Karr]

For a permant tank for a pair of Red Devils, I probably wouldn't go much smaller than 125g. For just a temporary breeder setup, you could use a tank as small as 55g.

When trying to pair cichlids up, remember that its easier to get a pair by raiseing a group of young fish together and letting them pair naturally. But it thats not possible, just try different mates 1 at a time for several months. Remember, in the wild, the females are usually 75% the size of the males.

Always keep an egg crate divider in the tank to separate the 2 fish because it's likely they will kill each other if you don't. And yes they can breed through it.

Change the water frequently and make sure its very clean. Provide a flat surface for spawning near the divider (piece of slate). The water should be kind of hard, a little salty, and a high pH.

Do you have a wild caught female?

Rex

[unforgiven118]

Yes, she was wild caught when she was very young and has never been kept with a male or any other red devil for that matter.
Her permanent home is a 55 gallon aquarium. If I could find a male for her, I'd probably only keep him in there long enough for them to spawn and then remove him to another tank.
I don't know how well this would work, but your the experts at breeding them, I've never attempted it.