One male with 3-5 females in a large tank with open sand; males guard a sand scrape or cave.
400+ L tank with a sand floor, rockwork with caves and open swimming space, hard alkaline water (pH 7.8-8.6) and strong filtration.
Large water changes, varied protein foods and a dominant male displaying in a sand nest or cave.
20-60 eggs per spawn, held in the female's mouth for about 3 weeks.
The female releases fry after about 3 weeks. Feed crushed flake and newly hatched brine shrimp; sort by size often as fry grow unevenly and larger siblings eat smaller ones.
One breeding tank for the hap mdoka white lips, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 24–28 °C · pH 7.8–8.6 · hard water · sand bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 16 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 150 cm rack for breeding the hap mdoka white lips in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 2,000 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Adult males are larger than females; in the Phenochilus forms males develop white scales from 1-2 years and are fully coloured at about 4 years.
Typical for mouthbrooders
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
The female takes the eggs into her mouth and stops eating.
After about 3 weeks the female releases fully formed fry. Many breeders move her to a quiet tank first.
Fry eat crushed flake and baby brine shrimp straight away.
Fry are a few centimetres long after about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Usually one male with several females. Feed high-quality food.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.