Breeding jewel cichlid(Hemichromis bimaculatus)
The jewel cichlid from the African rivers of nile,niger and congo are one of the most desired cichlids,for their amazing colours and compatability with
relatively beginner aquarists.Their active nature and ease of breeding just adds to the desire of having them.
This blog shows you how to breed this wonderful fish step by step-
1-Housing-
They are hardy fishes that can adapt to many surroundings,and water conditions as long as the extremities had not been reached.They do well in aquariums above 40 gallons,but a single pair kept for breeding purposes might do fine in about 25 gallons.The temperature range for optimum growth is 75 to 82 degrees-F,and ph 6-8.Make sure their are some hiding places in the tank(an important rule u should know if u keep medium sized cichlids).*Do not put them in planted aquariums if you want your plants to be safe,because like most cichlids they are found off digging(although hardy plants that can survive frequent digging might work out,also some specimens might work out in a planted tank,as every specimen have different temperament),
2-Finding a pair-
This is perhaps the toughest part in the whole process of breeding jewel cichlids.For opting a easy way out
you could buy an established pair from a pet store(although that would be the expensive alternate).What most of the experienced aquarists suggest is to buy 7-8 juvenile jewels and let them grow and form the pair on their own(I bought 4 specimens one month old and within a month they formed a pair,and the next month they were spawning).
which would happen quiet fast if optimum space and good quality food is provided.You would know you have a pair when they start defending a area of the tank and/or team up to chase other inhabitants of the tank.
you could buy an established pair from a pet store(although that would be the expensive alternate).What most of the experienced aquarists suggest is to buy 7-8 juvenile jewels and let them grow and form the pair on their own(I bought 4 specimens one month old and within a month they formed a pair,and the next month they were spawning).
which would happen quiet fast if optimum space and good quality food is provided.You would know you have a pair when they start defending a area of the tank and/or team up to chase other inhabitants of the tank.
3-Sexing-
A lot of people say that they are monogamous and hence impossible to sex from outside.But my opinion is a bit different.If u turn off the lights of your aquarium and focus a strong torchlight on your jewels you would see the male's spots on the body are far more visible and bright than the female.Generally speaking the males are more colorful(greater contrast between the body color and the color of the dots)and bigger than the females.Another way of sexing might work if u know for sure the sex of an isolated jewel cichlid,and put the one in it you want to determine the sex of.If their is instant fighting between both of them,they are most likely of same sex,and if they stay peaceful or you see one(male if bigger) chasing the other,probability is high that you have both of them of opposite sex.But this might not work out some times.
4-Conditioning-
Jewel cichlids readily accepts most types of fish foods.Flakes and pellets and occasional live foods like earthworms,meal worms or adult brine shrimp(if obtained from a trustworthy source) are enough to get them into breeding conditions.Although there is not much fuss about feeding them,I recommend Hikari Cichlid Staple(Click on the link to buy).
A temperature of about 78 degree-F would work fine.You would know when your pair might get busy,when you see one of the jewels becomes plump(belly swollen due to eggs inside).They generally start breeding at an early age of 3-4 months if the pair is formed and they are well conditioned.
5-The breeding-
When ready to breed your pair would choose and defend a territory fiercely.Then you would see them cleaning a portion of their territory.The female would lay any where between 100-800 eggs(depending on her size)on a flat rocks,or as a matter of fact any flat surface which they had cleaned before they can stick their eggs too,which are instantly fertilized by the male.
This process lies anywhere between 15-45 minutes and in my case always happened between 3-5 p.m.
At this time it is important to remove other inhabitants of the tank,to other tank(although it might be possible to raise them in a community aquarium,bit hard though due to their aggression level).Click here to see jewel fry.
Jewel pair Getting busy.
6-Hatching-
The eggs will hatch in about two days(don't worry if u wake up and find all eggs gone cause they might have hatched and their parents would have moved them some other place.You should provide jewels pair with some ceramic pots in which they would choose where to keep their newly hatched fry,or they would dug a pit somewhere for the same.
It would take about 3 more days for the fry to become free swimming(egg yolk might still be attached),and after 1-2 day they would start to be needing feeding.
7-Raising the fry-
Now some people believe that jewel cichlids are bad parents,but mine and some of my friends always raised their fry with full dedication.So it is important that u at least give them one chance to prove themselves.
.You could feed your fry small live foods(baby brine shrimp,infusoria,micro worms,etc.) or very finely crushed flake food,but remember live food always give better growth.Also jewels which take care of their fry would sometimes munch up their food and spit it out for the fry to it.
Feed several times a day in small quantities,but be careful not to overfeed.Also frequent small water changes are necessary to maintain good water quality,and keep the water temperature constant.
Jewel fry grow very fast and might reach up to 3/4th of an inch within a month if well cared for.
Happy breeding jewels.
For a video of jewel pair and their fry click here.
Some tips and warnings
1-You might see jewels sometimes eating their fry(apparently),but in actual they just catch up the wandering fries and pick them in their mouth and drop them back to their home.
2-The first few attempts to spawn might not be successful due to lack of synchronization between the pair,but don't be disheartened they would eventually reproduce.
3-Since the jewels breed every other 1-3 weeks,the new eggs might be eaten by the old fry.
4-Some eggs which turn white(not fertilized),might spread fungus to other which needs to be taken care of using anti fungal solution,but only if you are raising the fry separately.
5-If the first time their eggs are eaten,the male might become very aggressive and kill the female.So it is better to give them a target fish,that is visible to them(might be in the same tank partitioned,or other tank trough which they can see).
6-Although filtration is important,try to restrict to sponge or bubble filter or the fry may get sucked in.
For an interesting behavior of jewel cichlids click here.
