Breeding the princess of burundi
Cave spawner; the female usually tends the eggs while the male guards the area around the cave. Older young stay in the territory and help defend later broods.
Step by step
Buy a group of 6; one dominant pair forms and older fry help guard the next brood.
100 L tank with rock caves and slate, hard alkaline water (pH 8-9) and strong filtration. Group does well with the older fry left in.
Stable group, good feeding and a cave; they spawn without much encouragement.
30-100 eggs laid in a cave, hatching in about 3 days.
Fry become free swimming in about a week and are guarded by the group. Feed finely ground flake and newly hatched brine shrimp.
- Overcrowding with unrelated pairs
- Large caves that waste space
- Hard-to-clean tanks leading to poor water
Male or female
Not easy to sex; adult males are usually a little larger with longer dorsal and tail-fin extensions.
Can I breed it in my tank?
- Good for a first breeding project.
Day-by-day plan
Typical for cave spawners
- 21 days beforeSet up caves
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
- Day 0Spawning in the cave
Eggs are laid inside the cave and guarded, usually by the male.
- Day 4Eggs hatch
Eggs hatch in 3–7 days depending on the species and temperature.
- Day 10Fry leave the cave
Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed food. Plecos need wood and vegetables.
- Day 60Grow-out
Fry grow on in their own tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Simulator: guided
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
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.