Breeding the rainbow cichlid
Pair-forming substrate spawner: lays lines of eggs on a cleaned smooth rock or slate (often a vertical surface or cave); both parents fan the eggs, move the wrigglers to pits and guard the fry for four weeks or more.
Step by step
Grow out 6 juveniles and let a pair form; separate the pair if others are harassed.
A 150 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, flat slate or rocks as spawning surfaces and a tight lid.
Warm, clean water, frequent water changes and protein-rich food.
About 500-1500 eggs per spawning; they hatch in about 2 days and the fry swim freely up to a week later.
Parents move the wrigglers to pits and guard the free-swimming fry; feed newly hatched brine shrimp and crushed flake.
- Tank too small for a pair
- Dirty water
- Not removing the weaker partner when a pair fights
Male or female
Hard to sex; males are likely to have more pointed dorsal and anal fins. There is no clear colour difference between the sexes.
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.