Breeding the jewel cichlid
Substrate spawner that forms a pair; both parents guard the eggs and fry, and brood care lasts about a month. Pairs become very aggressive when spawning.
Step by step
Buy 6 juveniles and let a pair form; once paired, they defend the spawning site fiercely.
100-150 L tank with a flat stone, flowerpot or cave, a sand or gravel base and cover; separate the pair from other fish while spawning.
Good conditioning with live and frozen foods, a warm water change and a flat stone the pair can clean.
Up to about 600 eggs; they hatch in about 2-3 days and the fry swim freely about a day later.
Both parents guard the eggs and fry, moving them between pits. Feed newly hatched brine shrimp and crushed flake; remove fry before the parents are bothered by tank-mates.
- Leaving the pair with tank-mates that they will attack
- Not separating the fry from an aggressive pair
- Too small a tank for a mated pair
Male or female
Difficult to sex. In males the blue spotting in the middle of the fins forms a net-like pattern.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for open substrate spawners
- 21 days beforeLet a pair form
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
- Day 0Spawning
The pair cleans the stone and lays rows of eggs. Both guard them.
- Day 3Eggs hatch
Wrigglers hatch in 2–4 days and are moved to pits by the parents.
- Day 7Free swimming
Feed baby brine shrimp several times a day. Parents often herd the fry.
- Day 42Grow-out
Move fry to a grow-out tank before the parents spawn again.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Grow up a group and let a pair choose each other. Give them a flat stone or broad leaf.
Simulator: try it yourself
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
- Without live or frozen food the parents aren't in breeding condition.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.